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Clearance of penicillin G in the newborn calf
Insights
Newborn calves can excrete penicillin G shortly after birth. Total body clearance (ClB) of penicillin G increases rapidly in the early postnatal period, with higher clearances observed at 5 and 15 days of age.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacokinetics
- Veterinary Medicine
- Neonatal Physiology
Background:
- Penicillin G is a commonly used antibiotic in veterinary medicine.
- Understanding the pharmacokinetic profile of antibiotics in neonatal animals is crucial for effective treatment.
- Limited data exists on the early postnatal pharmacokinetics of penicillin G in calves.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the pharmacokinetic parameters of sodium penicillin G in calves during the first 15 days of life.
- To assess the changes in total body clearance and half-life of penicillin G post-birth.
- To evaluate the renal excretion capacity of newborn calves for penicillin G.
Main Methods:
- Intravenous administration of sodium penicillin G (4545 IU/kg) to calves at birth (12-24 h old) and at 5, 10, and 15 days of age.
- Serum sample collection at various intervals up to 120 minutes post-injection.
- Analysis of serum samples for penicillin G concentration to calculate pharmacokinetic parameters.
Main Results:
- Mean total body clearance (ClB) of penicillin G was 2.98 ml/min/kg at birth, increasing to 4.83 ml/min/kg at 5 days, 3.11 ml/min/kg at 10 days, and 4.65 ml/min/kg at 15 days.
- Clearances at 5 and 15 days of age were significantly higher (P ≤ 0.05) than on the day of birth.
- The elimination half-life (t1/2 beta) of penicillin G did not show significant changes throughout the study period.
Conclusions:
- Newborn calves possess a notable capacity for penicillin G excretion within 24 hours of birth.
- Total body clearance of penicillin G undergoes rapid augmentation in the immediate postnatal phase.
- These findings suggest a developing excretory system in neonatal calves impacting antibiotic efficacy.
Abstract:
Sodium penicillin G was administered intravenously (4545 IU/kg) to calves on the day of birth (12-24 h old) and at 5, 10, and 15 days of age. Serum was collected at varying intervals for 120 min after injection and analysed for penicillin G. The mean total body clearance (ClB) of penicillin G on the day of birth was 2.98 ml/min/kg compared to 4.83 ml/min/kg at 5 days, 3.11 ml/min/kg at 10 days and 4.65 ml/min/kg at 15 days of age. Clearances at 5 and 15 days were significantly (P less than or equal to 0.05) higher than on the day of birth. The half-life (t1/2 beta), however, did not change significantly over the 15-day period of the study. These results indicate that the newborn calf has an appreciable ability to excrete penicillin G before it is 24 h old, and that total body clearance of the antibiotic increases rapidly in the immediate postnatal period.