PHARMACOKINETICS OF AMPICILLIN ADMINISTERED ORALLY IN ASIAN ELEPHANTS (ELAPHUS MAXIMUS)

The purpose of this study was to determine the pharmacokinetics of ampicillin in Asian elephants (Elaphus maximus) and to relate this information to the in vitro activity of ampicillin against two pathogens isolated from one elephant. A single oral dose of ampicillin trihydrate (8 mg/ kg) was given to three elephants; body weights were estimated. Capsules containing the drug were hidden in oranges that were offered to the elephants, and ingestion was complete. The ampicillin minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for a streptococcal and staphylococcal elephant isolate was 0.06 ??g/ml- Mean peak serum ampicillin concentration (0.86 /?g/ml) was reached 90 min after administration of the drug. The mean area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) was 208.6 ? 106.4 /Ltgmin/ml. The mean terminal half-life (TV2?) was 53.7 ? 8.9 min. Ampicillin concentrations in serum remained above MIC for longer than 8 hr.