The purpose of this study was to determine the pharmacokinetics of
cefovecin after intravenous and subcutaneous dose of 8 mg/kg to alpacas.
Bacterial infections requiring long-term
antibiotic therapy such as neonatal
bacteremia,
pneumonia,
peritonitis, dental, and uterine
infections are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in this species. However, few antimicrobials have been evaluated and proven to have favorable pharmacokinetics for
therapeutic use. Most antimicrobials that are currently used require daily
injections for many days.
Cefovecin is a long-acting
cephalosporin that is formulated for subcutaneous administration, and its long-elimination half-life allows for 14-day dosing intervals in dogs and cats. The properties of
cefovecin may be advantageous for medical treatment of camelids due to its broad spectrum, route of administration, and long duration of activity. Pharmacokinetic evaluation of antimicrobial drugs in camelids is essential for the proper treatment and prevention of
bacterial disease, and to minimize development of
antibiotic resistant bacterial strains due to inadequate
antibiotic concentrations.
Cefovecin mean half-life, volume of distribution at steady-state, and clearance after
intravenous administration were 10.3 h, 86 mL/kg, and 7.07 mL·h/kg. The bioavailability was 143%, while half-life, C(max), and T(max) were 16.9 h, 108 μg/mL, and 2.8 h following subcutaneous administration. In the absence of additional microbial susceptibility data for alpaca pathogens, the current
cefovecin dosage regimen prescribed for dogs (8 mg/kg SC every 14 days) may need to be optimized for the treatment of
infections in this species.