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Plasma concentrations of itraconazole following a single oral dose in juvenile California sea lions ( Zalophus californianus )
Author(s) -
Scott Gregory,
Field Cara L.,
Papich Mark G.,
Harms Craig A.
Publication year - 2020
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.12865
Subject(s) - zalophus californianus , itraconazole , sea lion , pharmacokinetics , juvenile , plasma concentration , oral administration , medicine , zoology , biology , veterinary medicine , fishery , antifungal , ecology , dermatology
The objective of this study was to establish a single‐dose pharmacokinetic profile for orally administered itraconazole in California sea lions ( Zalophus californianus ). Twenty healthy rehabilitated juvenile California sea lions were included in this study. Itraconazole capsules were administered orally with food at a target dose of 5–10 mg/kg. Blood samples were collected from each animal at 0 hr and at two of the following timepoints: 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 24, 48, and 72 hr. Quantitative analysis of itraconazole in plasma samples was performed by high‐performance liquid chromatography. An average maximum concentration of 0.22 µg/ml ± 0.11 was detected 4 hr after administration. The average concentration fell to 0.12 µg/ml ± 0.11 by 6 hr and 0.02 µg/ml ± 0.02 at 12 hr. At no point did concentrations reach 0.5 µg/ml, the concentration commonly accepted for therapeutic efficacy. While this formulation was well tolerated by the sea lions, oral absorption was poor and highly variable among individuals. These data indicate that a single oral dose of itraconazole given as a capsule at 5–10 mg/kg, under the conditions used in this study, does not achieve therapeutic plasma concentrations in California sea lions.