Pharmacokinetics and tissue residue of enrofloxacin in healthy, Eimeria-infected broiler chickens and those pre-treated with amprolium and toltrazuril.

The pharmacokinetics of enrofloxacin was compared in healthy chickens, Eimeria infected chickens and in Eimeria infected chickens pre-treated with amprolium or toltrazuril following a single IV and oral administration at dose 10 mg/kg. The blood samples were taken after administration at different time intervals (5 min to 24 hours) to determine the pharmacokinetic parameters of enrofloxacin. The different concentrations of enrofloxacin were determined by using HPLC assay method. Serum concentrations versus time were analysed by a non-compartmental method. The results explored a significant decrease in serum concentrations of enrofloxacin at different time intervals and a significant change in pharmacokinetic profiles in Eimeria infected chickens compared with those values in healthy chickens whereas, amprolium improves these values. Toltrazuril leads to a significant decrease in enrofloxacin concentrations compared with infected non-treated chickens. Multiple-dose study revealed a longer withdrawal period of enrofloxacin in infected non-treated and infected chickens pre-treated with amprolium compared with the healthy group.