%0 Journal Article
%T Pharmacokinetic profile of a single dose of an oral pradofloxacin suspension administered to eastern long-necked turtles (Chelodina longicollis).
%A Taylor E
%A Trott DJ
%A Kimble B
%A Xie S
%A Govendir M
%A McLelland DJ
%J J Vet Pharmacol Ther
%V 44
%N 4
%D Jul 2021
%M 33283306
%F 1.567
%R 10.1111/jvp.12933
%X The pharmacokinetics of fluoroquinolones in chelonians are well described but this does not extend to pradofloxacin, a broad-spectrum veterinary fluoroquinolone available as an oral suspension for cats and dogs. The aim of this study was to investigate the single-dose pharmacokinetic profile of pradofloxacin oral suspension at 7.5 mg/kg in eastern long-necked turtles (Chelodina longicollis). Eight treated turtles were sampled at multiple time points up to 168 hr. Plasma concentrations were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography. Pradofloxacin was quantifiable for up to 48 hr after drug administration. The Tmax (9.0 hr) and T½ to 48 hr (13.16 hr) were longer, and the Cmax (0.2 μg/ml) and AUC0-24 (2.2 hr*μg/ml) lower, than previously reported in cats and dogs. Pradofloxacin was measurable in tank water samples for up to 48 hr. No adverse effects were observed in six turtles administered 7.5 mg/kg sid for 7 days. Using mammalian MIC data, the AUC0-24 /MIC ratios for a range of bacterial isolates suggest that this dose of pradofloxacin in turtles is unlikely to be effective against many bacterial pathogens.