PHARMACOKINETICS AND EFFICACY OF AMOXICILLIN IN THE TREATMENT OF AN EXPERIMENTAL STREPTOCOCCUS-BOVIS INFECTION IN RACING PIGEONS (COLUMBA-LIVIA)

The pharmacokinetics of amoxycillin in pigeons (Columba livia) and the efficacy of amoxycillin treatment in pigeon streptococcosis, were inv estigated. After intravenous administration of 150mg.kg(-1) amoxycilli n, the drug plasma concentration-time profile fitted an open two-compa rtment model. Amoxycillin was quickly cleared from the circulation wit h a mean half-life of 66min and showed a distribution volume of 0.9L.k g(-1) The absolute oral bioavailability of amoxycillin was 50.1 %. A 5 -day drinking water treatment with amoxycillin (1500mg.L-1, correspond ing to 112.0mg.kg(-1).day(-1) during day-light hours) significantly re duced the postinoculation morbidity in pigeons experimentally infected with Streptococcus bovis, compared to untreated infected controls.