Pharmacokinetics and tolerance of florfenicol in Equidae.
Abstract: Florfenicol was administered to horses and ponies at a dose rate of 22 mg/kg bwt by i.v., i.m. and oral routes. Following i.v. administration it had an elimination half-life of 1.8 ± 0.9 h, a body clearance of 0.4 ± 0.11/h.kg and a volume of distribution at steady-state of 0.7 ± 0.2 1/kg. It was highly bioavailable following i.m. (81%) and oral (83%) administration. Less than 15% of the administered dose was excreted unchanged in the urine during the 30 h following administration. Animals treated with florfenicol had elevated bilirubin concentrations. Florfenicol was well tolerated by animals in the present study although all animals had loose faeces following administration by each route. At present, florfenicol cannot be recommended for clinical use until multiple dose studies have been carried out to confirm its safety.
© 1996 EVJ Ltd.
Publication Date: 1996-05-01 PubMed ID: 28976707DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1996.tb03774.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Adverse Effects
- Animal Health
- Animal Studies
- Antibiotics
- Biological Half-Life
- Clinical Pathology
- Clinical Study
- Disease Treatment
- Equine Health
- Horses
- Intramuscular Administration
- Intravenous Administration
- Medication
- Oral Administration
- Pharmaceuticals
- Pharmacokinetics
- Pony
- Veterinary Medicine
- Veterinary Procedure
- Veterinary Research
Summary
This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.
The research studied the impact and tolerance of a drug called florfenicol when given to horses and ponies. It was found that the drug was largely bioavailable and well tolerated, though it led to looser stools and increased bilirubin concentration.
Methods and Findings
- The researchers used horses and ponies as the subjects of this study and administered them florfenicol, a broad-spectrum antibiotic, at a dosage of 22 mg/kg body weight by intravenous (i.v.), intramuscular (i.m.) and oral routes.
- Post intravenous administration, the elimination half-life of the drug was recorded to be 1.8 ± 0.9 hours, its body clearance was 0.4 ± 0.11/h.kg and the volume of its distribution at a steady-state was 0.7 ± 0.2 l/kg. The elimination half-life is the time taken for the drug concentration in the body to reduce by half. Body clearance represents the volume of plasma completely cleared of the drug per unit time and volume of distribution refers to the degree to which the drug spreads out within the body.
- The study found that florfenicol was highly bioavailable, i.e. it was efficiently absorbed into the body when administered intramuscularly (81%) and orally (83%). Bioavailability measures the extent and rate at which the active drug ingredient is absorbed and becomes available at the site of drug action after administration.
- Within 30 hours of administration, less than 15% of florfenicol dosage was excreted unchanged through urine, indicating that the majority of the drug was metabolized or used by the body.
- The drug, despite being well tolerated by the animals, induced elevated bilirubin concentrations. Bilirubin is a waste product resulting from the breakdown of red blood cells and an excessive amount could indicate liver damage.
- All the subjects showed occurrence of loose stools following administration by any of the routes.
Conclusion and Recommendations
- Based on these observations, the researchers conclude that while florfenicol was well absorbed and tolerated by the horses and ponies, it did produce some side effects such as elevated bilirubin levels and looser stools.
- Given these results, the researchers suggest that florfenicol should not be recommended for clinical use until more thorough studies have been conducted to further investigate its safety, particularly with regards to the observed increase in bilirubin levels.
Cite This Article
APA
McKellar QA, Varma KJ.
(1996).
Pharmacokinetics and tolerance of florfenicol in Equidae.
Equine Vet J, 28(3), 209-213.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.1996.tb03774.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Pharmacology, University of Glasgow Veterinary School, Bearsden Road, Glasgow G61 1QH, UKSchering-Plough Animal Health, PO Box 3182, Union, New Jersey 07083, USA.
- Department of Veterinary Pharmacology, University of Glasgow Veterinary School, Bearsden Road, Glasgow G61 1QH, UKSchering-Plough Animal Health, PO Box 3182, Union, New Jersey 07083, USA.
Citations
This article has been cited 8 times.- Trif E, Cerbu C, Olah D, Zăblău SD, Spînu M, Potârniche AV, Pall E, Brudașcă F. Old Antibiotics Can Learn New Ways: A Systematic Review of Florfenicol Use in Veterinary Medicine and Future Perspectives Using Nanotechnology.. Animals (Basel) 2023 May 19;13(10).
- Koutsoumanis K, Allende A, Alvarez-Ordóñez A, Bolton D, Bover-Cid S, Chemaly M, Davies R, De Cesare A, Herman L, Hilbert F, Lindqvist R, Nauta M, Ru G, Simmons M, Skandamis P, Suffredini E, Andersson DI, Bampidis V, Bengtsson-Palme J, Bouchard D, Ferran A, Kouba M, López Puente S, López-Alonso M, Nielsen SS, Pechová A, Petkova M, Girault S, Broglia A, Guerra B, Innocenti ML, Liébana E, López-Gálvez G, Manini P, Stella P, Peixe L. Maximum levels of cross-contamination for 24 antimicrobial active substances in non-target feed. Part 7: Amphenicols: florfenicol and thiamphenicol.. EFSA J 2021 Oct;19(10):e06859.
- Arnold C, Pilla R, Chaffin K, Lidbury J, Steiner J, Suchodolski J. Alterations in the Fecal Microbiome and Metabolome of Horses with Antimicrobial-Associated Diarrhea Compared to Antibiotic-Treated and Non-Treated Healthy Case Controls.. Animals (Basel) 2021 Jun 17;11(6).
- Li X, Li S, Wang B, Zhang M, Yuan D, Li J, Liang G. Borneol influences the pharmacokinetics of florfenicol through regulation of cytochrome P450 1A2 (CYP1A2), CYP2C11, CYP3A1, and multidrug resistance 1 (MDR1) mRNA expression levels in rats.. J Vet Med Sci 2021 Aug 26;83(8):1338-1344.
- Li S, Li X, Yang R, Wang B, Li J, Cao L, Xiao S, Huang W. Effects of anemoside B4 on pharmacokinetics of florfenicol and mRNA expression of CXR, MDR1, CYP3A37 and UGT1E in broilers.. J Vet Med Sci 2019 Dec 26;81(12):1804-1809.
- Shah JM, Qureshi TA, Shah T, Shah QA, Arain MA, Bhutto ZA, Saeed M, Siyal FA. Impact of therapeutic and high doses of florfenicol on kidney and liver functional indicators in goat.. Vet World 2016 Oct;9(10):1135-1140.
- Abd El-Aty AM, Goudah A, Abo El-Sooud K, El-Zorba HY, Shimoda M, Zhou HH. Pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of florfenicol following intravenous, intramuscular and oral administrations in rabbits.. Vet Res Commun 2004 Aug;28(6):515-24.
- Ali BH, Al-Qarawi AA, Hashaad M. Comparative plasma pharmacokinetics and tolerance of florfenicol following intramuscular and intravenous administration to camels, sheep and goats.. Vet Res Commun 2003 Sep;27(6):475-83.
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