Pharmacokinetics of Flumequine in Farmed Sea Bream (Sparus Auratus) Using Labeled Drug

Flumequine (FLU) is one of the main antibacterial agents widely prescribed to treat bacterial pathogens in Tunisian fish farming. A study was conducted to evaluate the pharmacokinetic properties of FLU following a single intraperitoneal administration of 12 mg/kg, corresponding to 100 μCi/kg in sea bream (Sparus auratus) interperitoneally as a single dose. The kinetics studies were performed on fish with an average weight of 147 g and held in sea water (salinity 38‰–39‰) at 28°C ± 1°C. Three fish were collected at various times ranging from 0.5 h to 168 h post administration. The absorption, distribution and elimination of ¹⁴C–labelled FLU were studied using whole body autoradiography (WBA) and liquid scintillation counting (LSC) and the concentration of FLU equivalent versus time had been evaluated in the major organs. An agreement between the data obtained from the two combined techniques was observed. Rapid and extensive distribution of FLU to the major organs half hour after dosing was recorded. The level of the drug declined in some tissues one hour after dosing, perhaps due to renal excretion after exposure. The fluctuation had been recorded through time in the excretory organs due to the elimination of the drug from other tissues through blood. From 72 h post administration, traces of the drugs were observed in the major tissues of the fish. The results indicate that FLU has a kinetic profile suitable for the selected specie because both the distribution and elimination of the drug were found to be rapid. (author)