Pharmacokinetics of thiamphenicol in Japanese quails (Coturnix japonica) after single intravenous and oral administrations.

Thiamphenicol (TP) pharmacokinetics were studied in Japanese quails (Coturnix japonica) following a single intravenous (IV) and oral (PO) administration at 30 mg/kg BW. Concentrations of TP were determined with HPLC and were analyzed by a noncompartmental method. After IV injection, elimination half-life (t1/2λz ), total body clearance (Cltot ) volume of distribution at steady state (Vdss ), and mean residence time (MRT) of TP were 3.83 hr, 0.19 L/hr/kg, 0.84 L/kg, and 4.37 hr, respectively. After oral administration of TP, the peak plasma concentration (Cmax ) was 19.81 μg/ml and was obtained at 2.00 hr (tmax ) postadministration. Elimination half-life (t1/2λz ) and mean absorption time (MAT) were 4.01 hr and 1.56 hr, respectively. The systemic bioavailability following oral administration of TP was 78.10%. TP therapy with an oral dosage of 30 mg/kg BW is suggested for a beneficial clinical effect in quails.