Pharmacokinetics of a single intravenous dose of marbofloxacin in adult donkeys

Six donkeys each received 2 mg/kg marbofloxacin as a 10 per cent aqueous solution administered intravenously. Principal pharmacokinetic parameters were determined and two efficacy indices were computed by using pharmacokinetic parameters and selected mic90 values of marbofloxacin against pathogenic equine strains to predict the efficacy of the drug at this dose. The pharmacokinetics of marbofloxacin in donkeys was characterised by a large mean volume of distribution at a steady state (1·15 [0·09] l/kg) and a long mean (sd) elimination half-life of 9·24 (1·96) hours. It was also characterised by a relatively slow total body clearance of 0·10 (0·02) l/kg/hour, slower than in horses. Using mic90 values of marbofloxacin against pathogenic equine strains with a daily dose of 2 mg/kg, appropriate values of efficacy indicators were obtained only for Enterobacteriaceae. Daily intravenous doses of 0·33, 2·62 and 20 mg/kg were calculated for evaluation in clinical trials of infections due to Enterobacteriaceae, Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococci, respectively.