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Pharmacokinetics of nebulized and subcutaneously implanted terbinafine in cottonmouths ( Agkistrodon piscivorus )
Author(s) -
Kane L. P.,
Allender M. C.,
Archer G.,
Leister K.,
Rzadkowska M.,
Boers K.,
Souza M.,
Cox S.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
journal of veterinary pharmacology and therapeutics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.527
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1365-2885
pISSN - 0140-7783
DOI - 10.1111/jvp.12406
Subject(s) - terbinafine , pharmacokinetics , medicine , implant , plasma concentration , fungal disease , anesthesia , pharmacology , antifungal , surgery , itraconazole , dermatology
Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola , the causative agent of snake fungal disease, is proposed as a serious threat to the conservation of several snake populations. The objective of this study was to determine the pharmacokinetic parameters of terbinafine administered through nebulization and a sustained subcutaneous implant as potential treatments of Ophidiomyces in reptiles. Seven adult cottonmouths ( Agkistrodon piscivorus ) were used in single‐dose trials. Each snake was nebulized with terbinafine (2 mg/ml) for 30 min and had blood collected before nebulization and up to 12 hr after nebulization. Following a 5‐month washout, the same snakes were administered a subcutaneous implant containing 24.5 mg terbinafine; blood was collected at baseline, 1 day postimplant placement, and then once weekly for 9 weeks. Plasma for both studies was analyzed by high‐performance liquid chromatography. The mean plasma concentrations of nebulized terbinafine peaked between 0.5 and 4 hr. The subcutaneously implanted terbinafine reached therapeutic concentrations on day 1 and maintained therapeutic for over 6 weeks. These methods and doses are recommended as potential treatment options for snake fungal disease in reptiles.