Effects of prior feeding on pharmacokinetics and estimated bioavailabilityafter oral administration of a single dose of microencapsulated erythromysin base in healthy foals

Objective-To determine effects of prior feeding on pharmacokinetics and est imated bioavailability of orally administered microencapsulated erythromyci n base (MEB) in healthy foals. Animals-6 healthy foals, 3 to 5 months old. Procedure-Foals were given 2 doses of MEB (25 mg/kg of body weight, PO). On e dose was administered after food was withheld overnight, and the other wa s administered after foals had consumed hay. The study used a crossover des ign with a 2-week period between doses. Blood was collected via a jugular v ein prior to and at specific limes after drug administration. Concentration s of erythromycin A and anhydroerythromycin A in plasma were determined, us ing highperformance liquid chromatography. Results pharmacokinetic analysis of plasma concentration-time data for food-withheld and fed conditions wer e compared. Results-Plasma concentrations of erythromycin A for foals were lower after feeding than concentrations when food was withheld. Area under the plasma c oncentration-time curve, maximum plasma concentration, and estimated bioava ilability were greater in foals when food was withheld than when foals were fed. Anhydroerythromycin A was detected in plasma after administration of MEB in all feats. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-Foals should be given MEB before they ar e fed hay. Administration of MEB to foals from which food was withheld over night apparently provides plasma concentrations of erythromycin A that exce ed the minimum inhibitory concentration of Rhodococcus equi for approximate ly 5 hours. The dosage of 25 mg/kg every 8 hours, PO, appears appropriate.