Pharmacokinetics of enrofloxacin and its metabolite ciprofloxacin in Pacific white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei after multiple-dose oral administration

The present study was designed to explore pharmacokinetics (PK) of enrofloxacin and its metabolite ciprofloxacin in Pacific white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei after multiple-dose oral administration of enrofloxacin (30 mg/kg dose per 12 h and continuous feeding for 3 days). Enrofloxacin and ciprofloxacin concentrations in hemolymph, hepatopancreas, and muscle of the shrimp were simultaneously determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. PK parameters were analyzed based on statistical moment theory. Meanwhile, the relationship of pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics (PK/PD) was established based on drug concentration of hemolymph and in vitro antibacterial activity (MIC value). Results showed faster absorption of enrofloxacin in hemolymph (T-max = 1 h) and muscles (T-max = 1 h) than that in hepatopancreas (T-max = 3 h) after the first oral administration. In multiple-dose oral administration, slight accumulation of enrofloxacin occurred in the hemolymph and hepatopancreas, while in the muscle, enrofloxacin concentration showed a significant decline following multiple administration. Tissue distribution of enrofloxacin and ciprofloxacin both followed the order hepatopancreas > hemolymph > muscle, with significantly higher ciprofloxacin concentration in hepatopancreas than in hemolymph (approximately 10-fold) and muscles (approximately 50-fold), indicating that the hepatopancreas is the main organ involved in metabolism of enrofloxacin in Pacific white shrimp. After multiple-dose administration, C-max/MIC and AUC(0-24)/MIC values showed that the therapeutic regimen in this study could be remarkably effective in prevention and treatment of Vibrio infection in Pacific white shrimp.