Pharmacokinetics of oxytetracycline following single dose oral administration in poultry

The present study was undertaken to investigate the pharmacokinetics of oxytetracycline @ 50 mg.kg^-1 in poultry birds following single dose oral administration. The concentration of oxytetracycline in poultry plasma was analysed by HPLC. The initial peak plasma concentration of 1.35 μg.ml^-1 of oxytetracycline was detected in poultry following single dose oral administration. The volume of distribution (V_F), clearance of drug (CL_F), mean area under curve (AUC), absorption halflife (K₀₁_HL) and elimination half-life (K₁₀_HL) calculated was 16103.43±1735.73 ml.kg_-1, 4206.2±278.282 ml.h^-1.kg^-1, 12.156±0.819 h. μg.ml-1, 2.178±0.263h and 2.737±0.402h respectively, following single dose oral administration of oxytetracycline. The therapeutic concentration (0.5 μgg.ml^-1) of oxytetracycline was maintained upto 8hrs following single (50mg/kg) oral administration. Based on the pharmacokinetic data, an oral dosage regimen of oxytetracycline with a priming dose of 73.0 mg.kg ¹ followed by a maintenance dose of 65.0 mg.kg ¹ at 8 h interval is recommended.