Pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of meloxicam in Pekin ducks following intravenous, intramuscular and oral administration

Abstract

Objective: To determine the pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of meloxicam following intravenous (IV), intramuscular (IM), and oral administrations at a dose of 1.0 mg kg^-1 in Pekin ducks.

Study design: Randomized experimental trial.

Animals: A total of 18 clinically healthy male Pekin ducks.

Methods: Pekin ducks were randomly assigned to three groups of six ducks: IV, IM and oral. Meloxicam (1.0 mg kg^-1) was administered to each Pekin duck. A non-compartmental analysis was used to evaluate pharmacokinetic parameters.

Results: No local or systemic adverse effects were observed in any bird. Meloxicam was detected in the plasma up to 120 hours following IV, IM or oral administration. The elimination half-life of the IV route was slightly shorter than that of the IM and oral routes (p < 0.05). Following IV administration, volume of distribution at steady state and total clearance were 133.17 mL kg^-1 and 6.68 mL kg^-1 hour^-1, respectively. The mean absorption time was 2.29 hours for IM and 1.13 hours for oral route. There were significant differences between IM and oral administration for the peak plasma concentration (C_max), time to reach C_max and bioavailability (p < 0.05).

Conclusions and clinical relevance: Meloxicam showed long elimination half-life and high bioavailability following IM and oral administration. Meloxicam in Pekin ducks provided the effective therapeutic concentration indicated in other species for up to 48 hours. However, there is a need to determine the clinical efficacy of meloxicam in Pekin ducks.

Keywords: bioavailability; duck; meloxicam; pharmacokinetics.