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Abstract in the 1 Young Research Conference at SCU 6-7 March 2013.p126

COMPARTMENTAL AND NON-COMPARTMENTAL

PHARMACOKINETICS OF CEFTIOFUR IN TILAPIA NILOTICA
(OREOCHROMIS NILOTICUS)
Waleed F. Khalil
Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt

Ceftiofur is a broad-spectrum third generation cephalosporin that inhibits bacterial cell wall
synthesis. It is active against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria which are the common
pathogen in fresh-water fish such as Aeromonas hydrophila and -lactamase-producing strains.
Ceftiofur pharmacokinetics in Tilapia nilotica fish were studied following single intracardiac
(i.c.) or intramuscular (i.m.) administration of ceftiofur sodium (NAXCEL) in a dose of 5 mg
ceftiofur / kg b.w. After i.c. injection, distribution and elimination half-lives (t0.5 and t0.5 )
were 0.14 0.03 and 0.61 0.22 hs, respectively. Elimination constant (Kel) and total body
clearances (Cltot) were 3.22 0.48 /h and 1.64 0.47 L/h.kg, respectively. Volume of
distribution (Vss) and area under curves (AUC) were 0.12 0.03 L/kg and 24.18 8.81 g/ml.h,
respectively. Following i.m. injection of ceftiofur, t0.5 ab and t0.5 were 0.49 0.06 and 0.53
0.03 hs, respectively. Kel and AUC were 1.31 0.07 /h and 24.75 13.30 g/ml/h, respectively.
Intramuscular bioavailability was quite high (96.85 10.62%) in Tilapia nilotica. In conclusion,
although ceftiofur sodium could be a useful alternative injectable antibiotic for treatment of
bacterial infections in brood stocks of tilapia or other fishes, its very short half-life will
considerably limits its practical use in tilapia and may be in other fish species.
Keywords: Cephalosporin, Tilapia nilotica , Ceftiofur, Pharmacokinetics
Corresponding author: wk@vet.suez.edu.eg