Marbofloxacin pharmacokinetics in rabbits

A D VA N C E S

Procedure Marbofloxacin (5 mg/kg) was administered orally every 24 hours to 8 New Zealand white rabbits for 10 days. The first day of administration was designated as day 1. Blood samples were obtained at 0, 0.17, 0.33, 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 12, and 24 hours on days 1 and 10 of marbofloxacin administration. Plasma marbofloxacin concentrations were quantified by a liquid chromatography assay. Pharmaokinetic analysis of marbofloxacin was also performed.

Results After oral administration, the area under the curve for days 0 and 10 was 10.50 ± 2.00 μg h/ml and 10.90 ± 2.45 μg h/ml, maximum plasma concentration was 1.73 ± 0.35 μg/ml and 2.56 ± 0.71 μg/ml, and harmonic mean terminal half-life was 8.0 hours and 3.9 hours, respectively.

Author Conclusion Marbofloxacin administered orally every 24 hours for 10 days is well absorbed and tolerated by rabbits. Administration of marbofloxacin at a dosage of 5 mg/kg, by mouth, every 24 hours, is recommended for rabbits to treat susceptible infections.

Inclusions One figure, 1 table, 43 references

Editor Annotation

MARBOFLOXACIN PHARMACOKINETICS IN RABBITS Background Marbofloxacin is a synthetic fluoroquinolone antimicrobial that was developed exclusively for veterinary use. It is approved in the United States for the treatment of dogs and cats with infections of the skin and soft tissues and for dogs with urinary tract infections. Although marbofloxacin is used clinically in rabbits, there have been no systemic pharmacokinetic studies published on marbofloxacin in this species.

Objectives To determine the pharmacokinetics of marbofloxacin after oral administration every 24 hours to rabbits during a 10-day period.

Pet rabbit ownership in the U.S. is increasing rapidly, and a common presentation of rabbits to the veterinarian is for treatment of bacterial infections. Marbofloxacin has a bactericidal activity against a wide range of gram-negative and gram-positive organisms, including Pasteurella multocida and Pseudomonas spp. Both organisms are commonly isolated pathogens in ill rabbits, especially those with respiratory disease. This study demonstrated that marbofloxacin administered orally at 5 mg/kg, every 24 hours, was well absorbed and tolerated by rabbits. Veterinarians should consider administration of marbofloxacin to rabbits with bacterial infections whenever susceptibility to the antibiotic is known. (AML) Carpenter JW, Pollock CG, Koch DE, et al. Single- and multiple-dose pharmacokinetics of marbofloxacin after oral administration to rabbits. Am J Vet Res 2009;70:522-526.

PAG E 7

PAG E 8

A D VA N C E S

Journals Monitored

• American Journal of Veterinary Research

• Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association

• Veterinary and Comparative Orthopaedics and Traumatology

• Australian Veterinary Journal

• Journal of Small Animal Practice

• Veterinary Dermatology

• Australian Veterinary Practitioner

• Journal of Small Exotic Animal Medicine

• Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology

• Journal of Veterinary Dentistry

• Veterinary Pathology

• Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine

• Veterinary Radiology & Ultrasound

• Journal of Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics

• Veterinary Record

• Avian Diseases • British Veterinary Journal • Canadian Journal of Veterinary Research • Canadian Veterinary Journal • Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery • Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association

• Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine • New Zealand Veterinary Journal • Research in Veterinary Science

• Veterinary Research Communications • Veterinary Surgery ... and more than 20 others