Pharmacokinetics of enrofloxacin in meat pigeons after a single intramuscular and oral administration

Abstract

The pharmacokinetic properties of enrofloxacin were investigated after a single intra-muscular (i.m.) and oral
administration of 10 mg/kg b.w. to 12 healthy adult pigeons. Twelve pigeons were randomly divided to two groups.
Blood samples were collected at different time points following drug administration. Plasma enrofloxacin
concentrations were determined by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Pharmacokinetic analysis
was conducted using non-compartmental methods via the ncappc package in R. The mean concentration area under
curve (AUC last) for enrofloxacin was determined to be 21.75±5.67 μg·h/mL for i.m., administration and
17.30±4.94μg·h/mL for oral administration. The elimination half- life (T1/2λz ) was 9.51±5.72 and 6.87±1.81 h for the i.m.,
and oral route, respectively. The mean maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) after i.m., administration was 2.50±0.27
μg/mL at 0.67±0.20 h, whereas after oral administration Cmax was 0.98±0.45μg/mL at 6.33±2.66 h. Mean residence time
(MRT last ) following i.m., injection was 11.02±2.28 and 14.85±1.78 h after oral administration. There are some
discrepancies in part of the pharmacokinetics parameters of enrofloxacin between meat pigeons and other poultry.