This study aimed to examine the depletion of tilmicosin residues in Gushi chickens following the administration at a concentration of 75 mg/L in their drinking water for three consecutive days. Plasma, liver, kidney, lung, muscle, and skin + fat samples were collected from 6 chickens at 6 h, 1, 3, 5, and 7 days after the treatment. Tilmicosin concentrations in the samples were determined using a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method. The findings revealed that the highest tilmicosin residues were detected in the liver, followed by the kidney, lung, skin + fat, muscle, and plasma. Notably, at 7 days post-treatment, no drug residue was detected in all samples except for the liver and kidney. The non-compartmental model was employed to calculate relevant pharmacokinetic parameters. The elimination half-lives (t1/2λz ) of tilmicosin were as follows, ranked from long to short: skin + fat (45.42 h), liver (44.17 h), kidney (40.06 h), plasma (37.64 h), lung (31.39 h), and muscle (30.05 h). Considering the current residue depletion and the maximum residue limits (MRLs) set by Chinese regulatory authorities, the withdrawal times for tilmicosin were estimated as 18.91, 10.81, and 8.58 days in the kidney, liver, and skin + fat, respectively. A rounded-up value of 19 days was selected as the conclusive withdrawal time. Furthermore, based on the observed tilmicosin concentrations in plasma and lung, combined with previously reported minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values against Mycoplasma gallisepticum, the current dosing regimen was deemed adequate for treating Mycoplasma gallisepticum infections in Gushi chickens.
Keywords: Gushi chickens; backyard chickens; depletion; tilmicosin; withdrawal time.
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