THE DISPOSITION KINETICS OF ALBENDAZOLE FOLLOWING THE ADMINISTRATION OF SINGLE AND DIVIDED DOSES TO CATTLE AND BUFFALO

Concentrations of albendazole sulphoxide and its sulphone metabolite i n plasma in cattle and buffalo were measured by high-performance liqui d chromatography after single and divided intraruminal administration of albendazole at the recommended nematocidal and fasciolicidal dose r ates of 7.5 and 15.0 mg/kg body weight, respectively. No significant d ifferences in the plasma concentrations of the metabolites or their ph armacokinetic parameters were observed between cattle or buffalo at ei ther dose rate. Pharmacokinetic analysis and the disposition curve of the metabolites indicated increased uptake of the drug in both cattle and buffalo when the same total amount of the drug was given in divide d doses compared to a single dose (p<0.05). The divided dose schedules of administration could possibly be exploited to extend the life of t he available benzimidazole anthelmintics.