The pharmacokinetics of doxycycline was investigated in force-fed and normally fed ducks after single intravenous (i.v.) and oral (p.o.) administration at a dose of 15 mg/kg bw. Serum concentrations of the drug were determined by the HPLC method. Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated using compartmental analysis. Serum concentrations of doxycycline after i.v. administration in both groups were not statistically different. The values of half-lives were 5.82±1.85 h and 6.06±5.51 h in normal and force-fed birds. The total body clearance was respectively 0.40±0.05 L/h/kg and 0.34±0.10 L/h/kg, and volume of distribution (Vss) was 2.80±0.85 L/kg and 2.18±0.89 L/kg. After p.o. administraton the maximum serum levels in the control group were 0.70±0.12 μg/mL and in force-fed birds were 1.93±0.32 μg/mL, measured at 2.95±0.60 h and 1.45±0.24 h, respectively. The values of absolute bioavailability were 18.89±6.48% and 37.58±13.63%. Longer doxycycline retention in force-fed ducks was registered. Our data can be accepted as an information for possible prolonged retention of doxycycline in force fed ducks compared to normally fed ones.

INTRODUCTION

Doxycycline (DOX), a broad spectrum bacteriostatic tetracycline derivative is active against Chlamydia spp., Rickettsia spp., Mycoplasma spp., Pasteurella multocida, E coli, and protozoa (1). It is preferred to other tetracyclines because of its higher oral absorption, high tissue concentrations and long persistence in orally treated animals (2). The pharmacokinetics of DOX is described in different bird species such as chickens (2, 3, 4), turkeys (5, 6), ducks (7) and pigeons (8).

Fatty liver production is the process of force-feeding ducks. This procedure, when carried out according to professional standards, does not induce diet-related pathological changes and the hepatic steatosis is reversible (9). Notwithstanding, it results in up to 5-fold increase of the weight of liver. These changes are usually accompanied by alteration of liver function, decreasing of activity of enzymes such as proteases and increased AST, lipase blood levels and triglyceridemia (10, 11). During this period the birds change many physiological parameters and this can be accompanied by diseases with bacterial etiology. Their therapy often requires antibiotic use. Such type of changes can provoke variations in the drug disposition in case of necessary treatment (12). Although force feeding is not so prevalent as before, such animals need proper treatment and better understanding of the changes in order to design suitable dosage regimens. The data about the pharmacokinetics of antibacterials in force-fed ducks are more than insufficient. Thus the aim of the paper was to investigate the pharmacokinetics of doxycycline in force-fed ducks compared to normally fed birds.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

RESULTS

Doxycycline serum concentrations after both administration roads in normally and force-fed ducks are presented in Figure 1, and the values of pharmacokinetic parameters in Table 1.

Figure 1. Serum concentrations of doxycycline (mean±SD) after i.v. (¯®) and p.o. (rp) administration in ducks before (---) and after force-feeding (––) at a dose of 15 mg/kg

Table 1. Selected pharmacokinetic parameters of doxycycline in ducks, after intravenous or oral administration at dose of 15 mg/kg (mean±SD)

The data after i.v. administrations were not significantly different between both groups. Shorter distribution half-life was calculated in the force-fed ducks, but the values of distribution volumes were not statistically different. The elimination half-life showed tendency for prolongation, with higher values in force-fed birds. The same dependence existed for the values of MRT. The total body clearance was insignificantly slower. After p.o. administration the force-fed ducks absorbed faster and more completely DOX. Its maximum serum levels were higher and were measured earlier in this group of birds. Similarly to the i.v. injection, the values of t_1/2β were not statistically different between normally and force-fed ducks. The values of AUC and absolute bioavailability were twice higher in the force-fed ducks if compared to control birds.

DISCUSSION

Doxycycline is one of the most often used tetracycline antibiotics in poultry farming. Its pharmacokinetics is well described in healthy chickens (2, 14, 15), turkeys (6), ducks (7), pigeons as well as wild bird species (8) and the dosage regimens are defined.

The steatosis as a result from force-feeding was a reason for significant changes of the liver function, which could be followed by different absorption, distribution and elimination of substances in accordance with their chemical structure and behavior in the body (12). The values of some biochemical parameters were statistically significantly increased after force-feeding: holesterol (from 4.74±0.61 to 13.48±2.84 mmol/L), triglycerides (from 0.44±0.10 to 2.04±1.24 mmol/L), bilirubin had almost doubled values and LDH (from 648±206 U/L to 1500±783 U/L) as it was found in our previous work (12). Other investigation revealed that bromosulfophtaleine and indocyanine green, compounds used for evaluation of liver function, had retarded elimination and higher volume of distribution in force-fed ducks, demonstrating possible changes in biliary excretion of drugs (16).

Up to now, data about the pharmacokinetics of doxycycline in force-fed ducks is not known. In our case, the differences between the control and experimental groups were the diet and the age of two weeks. That is why the alterations found in the pharmacokinetics in force-fed ducks were linked to the diet and the provoked changes in the liver. Absence of significant changes in the values of total body clearance and Vd_area determined similar elimination half-life in both groups of ducks after intravenous administration. Significantly higher distribution rate constant in the normally fed birds demonstrate faster distribution of doxycycline in this group of animals. The values of the ratio of the rate constants, characterizing the transport of doxycycline between two compartments, were similar and showed faster penetration of the antibiotic from the central to the second deep compartment. All the results for distribution were different from the data for enrofloxacin in similar experiment with ducks (12). These differences can be discussed in relation to the properties of the compounds such as pKa and pH, their lipophilicity. Another explanation can be found in the metabolism of these compounds. Doxycycline is not metabolized and it is excreted mainly via the bile. In contrary, enrofloxacin is metabolized to ciprofloxacin and other metabolites which are excreted via urine and bile (17, 18). Buechler and Weiss (17) reviewed the changes in liver disposition and pharmacokinetics of biliary excreted drugs in steatosis. The cited authors attributed the observed variations to the expression and function of enzymes from the Ist and IInd phase of metabolism together with transporter proteins in such liver disorders. Alteration of liver enzymes from the CYP450 family that participate in the metabolism of enrofloxacin can be a reason for slower elimination of the fluoroquinolone in force-fed ducks (12, 18).

After oral treatment in force-fed ducks, statistically significant lower values of t_1/2abs, T_max and higher levels of C_max showed that this diet leads to faster and higher absorption of doxycycline. This data was in accordance with the higher values of AUC, absolute and relative bioavailability. The observed changes demonstrate that the absorption of doxycycline can be increased in ducks with steatosis and higher concentrations of the antibiotic in the liver with prolonged withdrawal time for this tissue can be expected. The highly lipophilic character of doxycycline, together with increased contents of holesterol and triglycerides, can also explain the higher C_max and bioavailability in this group of ducks (19). Retention of bilirubin in ducks with steatosis also deserves attention and further studies of antibiotic transport from hepatocytes into the bile via transporter proteins are required (18). Further studies are required to evaluate the differences in tissue disposition of this drug in force-fed birds.

Doxycycline is used in treatment of Escherichia coli, Pasteurella spp., Mycoplasma spp. and Staphylococcus spp. infections in ducks. Its administration requires MIC determination and according to our results oral dose of 15 mg/kg can be high enough to treat only very susceptible pathogenic bacteria with MIC lower than 0.5 µg/ml. Although higher concentrations of doxycycline were determined in ducks with steatosis, better efficacy of treatment can be achieved with higher doses that can guarantee concentrations above MIC during at least 80% of the dosage interval (20).

CONCLUSION

As a conclusion, ducks with fatty liver better absorb doxycycline and show a tendency for a slower elimination compared to normally fed. The observed differences can be accepted as an information for possible prolonged retention of doxycycline in force fed ducks compared to normally fed.