Abstract
Objective—To determine pharmacokinetics of marbofloxacin in water buffalo calves (Bubalus bubalis) after multiple SC administrations and to assess differences in regimen efficacy.
Animals—18 healthy buffalo calves.
Procedures—Calves (n = 6 calves/group) were assigned to receive marbofloxacin SC in the neck at 1 of 3 dosages (2 mg/kg, q 24 h for 6 days [regimen 1]; 4 mg/kg, q 48 h for 6 days [regimen 2]; and 4 mg/kg, q 24 h for 3 days [regimen 3]). Serum marbofloxacin concentrations were analyzed. Efficacy predictors were estimated on the basis of minimum inhibitory concentration and mutant prevention concentration reported for Pasteurella multocida and Mannheimia haemolytica.
Results—Mean ± SD area under the concentration-time curve was 5.92 ± 0.40 μg•h/mL for regimen 1, which differed significantly from that for regimens 2 (14.26 ± 0.92 μg•h/mL) and 3 (14.17 ± 0.51 μg•h/mL). Mean residence time and mean elimination half-life for regimen 2 (9.93 ± 0.20 hours and 8.77 ± 0.71 hours) both differed significantly from those for regimens 1 (721 ± 0.11 hours and 5.71 ± 0.38 hours) and 3 (759 ± 0.13 hours and 737 ± 1.19 hours). Values obtained from indices for P multocida and M haemolytica had an excessively wide range because of the various degrees of antimicrobial susceptibility (low, medium, and high) of the strains.
Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Regimen 3 had the most favorable indices, and it would be conducive for owner compliance and require less handling of animals.
