DISPOSITION OF AMIKACIN IN FALLOW DEER (DAMA-DAMA) FOLLOWING A SINGLEINTRAMUSCULAR DOSE

Single-dose pharmacokinetics of amikacin following i.m. administration were determined in six adult fallow deer (Dama dama). A dose of 7.47 +/- 0.71 mg/kg was determined by metabolic scaling. Serial blood sampl es were collected through an indwelling jugular catheter at 0, 5, 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, and 90 min and 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, and 12 hr postadmini stration. Drug concentration vs. time curves were best fit to a biexpo nential equation, which was interpreted as a single compartment open m odel with first-order input. Maximal serum concentrations of 34.99 +/- 9.93 mu g/ml were reached at 0.40 +/- 0.21 hours based on a disappear ance rate constant of 0.57 +/- 0.11 hr(-1) and a model-dependent disap pearance half-life of 1.14 +/- 0.051 hr. Model-independent parameters were mean residence time (1.62 +/- 0.32 hr), area under the curve (70. 32 +/- 8.14 mu g[hr]/ml), area under the moment curve (115.8 +/- 8.29 mu g[hr](2)/ml), average concentration at steady state (20.41 +/- 1.37 mu g/ml), and effective half-life (1.16 +/- 0.20 hr). Based on the mi nimum inhibitory concentration of typical organisms, the suggested dos ing regimen for fallow deer is 7.5 mg/kg every 4-6 hr, depending on th e organism encountered.