Pharmacokinetics of cefquinome following intravenous and intramuscular injection in camels

The pharmacokinetics of cefquinome was determined in camels following single intravenous and intramuscular injection at a dose of 1 mg/kg into 5 healthy she-camels. A crossover study was carried out in 2 periods separated by 30 days clearance period. Cefquinome concentrations in plasma were determined by LC-MS/MS assay. Cefquinome concentration vs time data after IV and IM was best fitted to a two-compartment open model. Cefquinome mean values of area under concentration-time curve (AUC) were 15.37 ± 1.06 and 12.85 ± 2.15 μg/ml/h after IV and IM injection, respectively. Distribution and elimination half-lives were 0.14 ± 0.04 h and 3.15 ± 0.22 h after IV dose and 1.42 ± 0.11 h and 6.68 ± 0.87 h after IM administration. The value of total body clearance (Cl_tot) was 0.07 ± 0.001 L/kg/h and volume of distribution at steady state (V_ss) was 0.27 ± 0.02 L/kg. In conclusion, cefquinome persisted in plasma for 12 hours at concentration that exceeds the MIC for many microorganisms such as Streptococcus spp., Staphylococci, Klebsiella spp., Pasteurella spp., Salmonella spp. and enteric and systemic Escherichia coli. Therefore, it is suggested using cefquinome twice daily intravenously or intramuscularly at a dose of 1mg/kg in camels.