Pharmacokinetics, optimal dosages and withdrawal time of florfenicol in Asian seabass (Lates calcarifer) after oral administration via medicated feed

Asian seabass (Lates calcarifer) is an economically important fish in Asian and Australian markets, but few pharmacokinetic (PK) data of antimicrobial drugs in this species is available. The present study investigated the PK behaviour of florfenicol (FF) through medicated feed in Asian seabass cultured at 25°C. The serum and muscle/skin concentrations of FF and its metabolite florfenicol amine (FFA) were determined by the HPLC-FLD method and analysed by one-compartmental model. The optimal dosages were determined by pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PK-PD) approach and the linear regression analysis was used to determine the withdrawal time (WDT). The PK study following a single oral administration of 15 mg/kg FF via medicated feed revealed that the absorption half-life (t_1/2Ka ), elimination half-life (t_1/2K ), peak concentration (C_max ), area under the concentration-time curve (AUC), volume of distribution (Vd/F) and clearance (CL/F) were 1.47 h, 8.07 h, 8.61 μg/ml, 146.41 h·μg/ml, 1.19 L/kg and 0.102 L/kg/h, respectively. The muscle/skin concentration-time profile was similar to that of the serum, suggesting well distribution but only a small fraction of FF was metabolized to FFA. The optimal dosage for a minimum inhibitory concentration of 2 μg/ml was calculated as 13.38 mg/kg/day. The appropriate WDT after multiple oral medications with 15 mg/kg FF once daily for 7 days was determined as 8 days. Information obtained from the current study can potentially be applied for the treatment of bacterial diseases in farming Asian seabass.