Clinical pharmacology and pharmacokinetics of flumequine after intravenous, intramuscular and oral administration in pigeons (Columba livid)

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Abstract
Dorrestein, G.M., Gogh, H. van, Buitelaar, M.N. & Nouws, J.F.M. Clinical pharmacology and pharmacokinetics of flumequine after intravenous, intramuscular and oral administration in pigeons (Columba livia). J. vet. Pharmacol. Therap. 6, 281–292.The in‐vitro activity of flumequine against 157 strains of bacteria isolated from birds was determined. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 96.3% of the Enterobacteriaceae, Proteus spp. and Yersinia pseudotuberculosis studied (n = 135) was ≤1 μg/ml. Pharmacokinetics of flumequine in pigeons (Columbalivia) was investigated after intravenous, intramuscular and oral administration. From the blood disappearance curves after i.v. bolus injection (10 mg/kg body weight) clearance rate, blood half‐time and distribution volume were calculated. The recovery of unchanged flumequine from the droppings in 24 h was 37 ± 10% of the administered dose. Flumequine was also given i.m. at two dose levels, 10 and 60 mg/kg body weight. The availability of flumequine as intact drug was 22 and 23%, respectively, in 24 h. Therapeutic blood levels were maintained for 4 and 10 h, respectively. After an oral dose of flumequine (60 mg/kg body weight) an availability of 6.7 ± 2.5% and a peak blood concentration of 2.68 ± 0.92 μg/ml at 2 h after administration were found. The recovery of unchanged flumequine from the droppings in 24 h was 1.55 ± 0.79% of the administered dose. With the exception of the i.m. dose of 10 mg/kg, all flumequine administrations made the pigeons vomit. It appears that blood concentrations below 3 μg/ml will not induce vomiting. On the basis of the present data, a dosage regimen for flumequine in pigeons of a priming dose of 30 mg/kg i.m., followed after 8 h by oral administration of 30 mg/kg, this dose being repeated every 8–12 h, would be expected to give blood concentrations between 1.44 and 2.88 μg/ml.