Indian Journal of Animal Research

The pharmacokinetics and dosage regimen of cefuroxime were determined in normal and febrile goats following its single intravenous administration @ 20 mg/kg. Fever was induced by a single intravenous injection of Escherichia coli endotoxin @ 1.0 μg kg⁻¹. The distribution half life (t_½ α) and total body clearance (Cl_B) were found significantly lower in febrile goats (t_½ α = 0.23 ± 0.03 hr and Cl_B = 11.23 ± 0.57ml kg⁻¹ min⁻¹) as compared to healthy goats (t_½ = 0.58 ± 0.09 hr and Cl_B = 20.23 ± 1.39 ml kg⁻¹ min⁻¹). The elimination half life (t_½ α) and apparent volume of distribution (Vd_area) were found significantly higher in febrile goats (t_½ β = 8.07 ± 0.34 hr and Vd_area = 7.78 ± 0.24 L kg⁻¹) compared to healthy goats (t_½ β = 3.35 ± 0.09 hr and Vd_area = 5.88 ± 0.48 L kg⁻¹). An intravenous dosage regimen suitable for maintaining the minimum therapeutic plasma concentration of 1.0 μg ml⁻¹ in febrile animal would be @ 22 mg/kg body weight as loading dose (D*) and @ 15 mg/kg as maintenance dose(D₀) repeated at 12 hourly dosage intervals.