TOPICS IN MEDICINE AND SURGERY
Blood Concentrations of Enrofloxacin and the Metabolite Ciprofloxacin in Yellow-Bellied Slider Turtles (Trachemys scripta scripta) After a Single Intracoelomic Injection of Enrofloxacin

https://doi.org/10.1053/j.jepm.2013.05.009Get rights and content

Abstract

Enrofloxacin (E) is a commonly used antimicrobial in reptile medicine. However, few studies have been performed in reptile species to determine therapeutic blood levels of the fluoroquinolone (FQ) class of antimicrobial agents. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the pharmacokinetics of E and its metabolite ciprofloxacin (C) in 21 yellow-bellied slider turtles (Trachemys scripta scripta). The animals were administered 10 mg/kg of E via intracoelomic injection. Blood was collected at scheduled times and analyzed using a validated high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) fluorescence method. The turtles showed some indications of transient pain following administration. The pharmacokinetics of E and C were long lasting (196 hours and 168 hours, respectively). This could be of concern where turtles are used for food because of drug tissue residues. The administered dose seemed to be optimal for clinical application because (1) drug concentrations in blood were appropriate for treating bacterial infections without adversely affecting the patient and (2) effective maximum concentration/minimum inhibitory concentration (Cmax/MIC) and area under the simulated blood-time curve (AUC)/MIC ratios were achieved. In conclusion, the dose of 10 mg/kg administered via intracoelomic injection in yellow-bellied slider turtles appeared safe and achieved optimal pharmacodynamic parameters.

Section snippets

Animal Treatment and Sampling

Twenty-one yellow-bellied slider turtles of undetermined sex, with body weights ranging from 0.25 to 1.9 kg (mean: 0.9 kg), were used for this research study. The turtles were supplied by a local park and were conditioned for a 2-week period prior to starting the study. Turtles were judged to be in good health based on physical examination at the time of acquisition and through daily observation of behavior and appetite. These observations and health determinations were made by specialized

Results

Immediately after the 10 mg/kg injection of E, animals demonstrated rapid, uncoordinated movements for several seconds. These effects were transient and no other difficulties in walking or swimming were noted throughout the remainder of the study.

The HPLC method was specific and could determine concentration of both C (retention time 5.2 ± 0.1 minutes) and E (retention time 6.6 ± 0.1 minutes) in the sample. A chromatographic peak eluting at a retention time (RT) following E (RT 7.7 ± 0.1

Discussion

The E dose administered to the turtles in this investigation was selected based on previous turtle pharmacokinetic studies.4, 5 In those previous studies, animals injected via the intracoelomic route were found to develop local irritation and soft tissue necrosis.4, 5, 18, 19 The concentrations of the E in those studies ranged from 25 to 100 mg/mL, which is 2.5 to 10× higher than the dose used for the current study (10 mg/mL). These reported side effects led some authors to claim that oral

Conclusions

A single injection of E produced a long-lasting pharmacokinetic profile in yellow-bellied slider turtles. The dose of 10 mg/kg administered in a 10 mg/mL solution via the intracoelomic route appeared to be safe and achieved optimal pharmacodynamic parameters. The recommended frequency of treatment using the intracoelomic route is about 6 to 7 days if multiple dosage studies are conducted. Some concerns arose from the consequences of treated turtles potentially entering the human food chain based

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by atheneum funds (e.g., 60% University of Pisa). Any external funding did not support the preparation of the manuscript. The authors would like to thank Dr E. Owen (University of Queensland, Australia) for editing the manuscript.

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