| Autor: |
Norton TM; Georgia Sea Turtle Center, Jekyll Island Authority, Jekyll Island, Georgia 31527, USA, tnorton@jekyllisland.com., Clauss T; Georgia Aquarium, Atlanta, Georgia 30313, USA., Sommer R; Georgia Sea Turtle Center, Jekyll Island Authority, Jekyll Island, Georgia 31527, USA., Stowell S; Georgia Sea Turtle Center, Jekyll Island Authority, Jekyll Island, Georgia 31527, USA., Kaylor M; Georgia Sea Turtle Center, Jekyll Island Authority, Jekyll Island, Georgia 31527, USA., Thistle C; Georgia Sea Turtle Center, Jekyll Island Authority, Jekyll Island, Georgia 31527, USA., Cox S; Department of Biomedical and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, USA. |
| Abstrakt: |
The objective of this study was to determine the pharmacokinetics of a single dose of meloxicam administered subcutaneously (SQ) to three species of sea turtles: loggerheads ( Caretta caretta ), Kemp's ridley ( Lepidochelys kempii ), and greens ( Chelonia mydas ). A dose of 1 mg/kg was given to the Kemp's ridleys and greens, whereas the loggerheads received 2 mg/kg. After SQ administration, the half-life (t1/2) of meloxicam administered at 1 mg/kg in the Kemp's ridleys was 5.51 hr but could not be determined in the greens. The half-life of meloxicam administered at 2 mg/kg in the loggerheads was 2.99 hr. The maximum concentration (Cmax) for meloxicam after SQ administration at 1 mg/kg in the Kemp's ridleys was 6.76 µg/ml and in the greens was 9.35 µg/ml. The Cmax in loggerheads for meloxicam after SQ administration at 2 mg/kg was 3.63 µg/mL. Meloxicam administered SQ at a dose of 1 mg/kg to the Kemp's ridley and greens provided measurable plasma concentrations of meloxicam for 48 and 120 hr, respectively, with no adverse side effects. In loggerheads, meloxicam administered SQ at a dose of 2 mg/kg provided measurable plasma levels of meloxicam for only 24 hr. Plasma levels of meloxicam of greater than 0.5 µg/ml are considered to be therapeutic in humans. Results suggested that administration of meloxicam SQ at 1 mg/kg in Kemp's ridleys and greens would result in plasma concentrations greater than 0.5 µg/ml for 12 and 120 hr, respectively. The administration of 2 mg/kg meloxicam to loggerhead turtles resulted in plasma concentrations greater than 0.5 µg/ml for only 4 hr. |
