PHARMACOKINETIC PROPERTIES AND ORAL BIOAVAILABILITIES OF DIFLOXACIN IN PIG AND CHICKEN

1. Pharmacokinetic properties of difloxacin have been studied in pig a nd chicken after intravenous and oral administration. 2. The serum con centrations of difloxacin in pig and chicken after intravenous adminis tration were best described by a two-compartment open model, giving di stribution half-lives of 0.50 and 0.66 h and elimination half-lives of 7.92 and 4.10 h for pig and chicken respectively. The steady-slate di stribution volumes were 1.70 and 3.06 l/kg for pig and chicken respect ively. 3. After oral administration of 5 mg/kg to pig and chicken, the serum concentrations reached maximal levels of 3.61 and 0.96 mu g/ml respectively at 1.25 and 1.40 h. The elimination half-lives were 11.8 and 7.35 h for pig and chicken respectively. 4. The bioavailabilities of difloxacin were calculated as 93.7 (pig) and 86.9 % (chicken).