Clinical efficacy and pharmacokinetics of meloxicam in Mediterranean buffalo calves (Bubalus bubalis)

Abstract

The aims of the investigation were to establish for the first time (i) clinical efficacy and (ii) pharmacokinetic profile of meloxicam intravenously (IV) administered in male Mediterranean buffalo calves after surgical orchiectomy. The study was performed on 10 healthy buffalo calves, between 4 and 5 months old and between 127 and 135 kg of body weight (b.w.). An IV injection of 0.5 mg/kg b.w. of meloxicam was administered in six calves (treated group, TG) immediately after surgery; the other four animals were used as untreated control group (CG). The clinical efficacy of meloxicam was evaluated pre- and post-surgery by monitoring respiratory rate (RR), heart rate (HR), rectal temperature (T°C), serum cortisol levels (SCL) and pain score (PS). Significant inter-groups differences were detected at sampling times (T): 4 hour (h) for RR (P<0.05), at T1-4-6-8 h for PS (P<0.05) and at T4-6-8 h for SCL (P < 0.0001). Regarding the mean intra-group values observed pre (T0) and post-surgery (from T15 min to T72 h), significant difference between the groups were found for RR (P<0.01), PS and SCL (P<0.05). The pharmacokinetic profile was best fitted by a two-compartmental model and characterized by a fast distribution half-life and slow elimination half-life (0.09 ± 0.06 h and 21.51 ± 6.4 h, respectively) and meloxicam mean concentrations at 96 h was of 0.18 ± 0.14 μg/mL. The volume of distribution and clearance values were quite low, but reasonably homogenous among individuals (Vdss 142.31 ± 55.08 mL/kg and ClB 4.38 ± 0.95 mL/kg/h, respectively). The IV administration of meloxicam in buffalo calves shows encouraging effects represented by significant and prolonged analgesic effects, significant reduction of SCL as well as similar pharmacokinetic profile to bovine calves.

Seroprevalence and Clinical Outcomes of Neospora caninum, Toxoplasma gondii and Besnoitia besnoiti Infections in Water Buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis)

“…Water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) breeding system represents an important Italian economic resource and mozzarella cheese manufacturing is third-ranked as agricultural economy concerning sales volume [1]. Whereas water buffalo medicine suffers from poor clinical scientific knowledge if compared to cattle [2][3][4], estimation under field conditions of clinical findings associated to parasitic infections is an interesting challenge in this species where knowledge regarding the health consequences of the most common pathologies as well as their economic impact on the entire dairy food-chain are still almost rare [5][6][7]. In the recent years, increasing demand for dairy products and consequent maximizing productivity of buffalo herds have raised concerns regarding diseases that lower fertility or cause abortion in this livestock species but the attention has been focused mostly on infectious diseases [8].…”

Effect of castration procedure on the pharmacokinetics of meloxicam in goat kids

“…Meloxicam results in a reduced serum cortisol concentration that is induced by castration in different animal species and provides prolonged analgesic action (Cagnardi et al., 2017; Keita, Pagot, Prunier, & Guidarini, 2010). The concurrent administration of NSAID and xylazine results in improved effectiveness in castration (González et al, 2010).…”

“…In this study, the changes caused by castration procedure in the pharmacokinetics of meloxicam attributed the castration stress and pharmacodynamic effects of xylazine. The castration stress induces the stimulation of the sympathetic and endocrine systems (hypothalamus–hypophysis–adrenals axis activity followed by ACTH and cortisol release) (Antonia, Anastasia, & Tesseromatis, 2012; Cagnardi et al., 2017). This stimulation disturbs homeostasis and leads to excessive increases of free fatty acids affected drug binding to albumin.…”

“…Stress‐induced homeostatic changes have been reported effects on drug pharmacokinetics (Antonia et al., 2012). However, meloxicam and xylazine administrations have reduced castration stress‐induced effects (Cagnardi et al., 2017; Coetzee et al., 2012; Coetzee, Gehring, Tarus‐Sang, & Anderson, 2010). This situation may cause to a more pronounced effect of xylazine on meloxicam pharmacokinetics.…”

“…The concurrent administration of xylazine and NSAIDs in castration reportedly exerts a potent analgesic effect (González et al, 2010). The pharmacokinetics of meloxicam following castration in calves has been demonstrated (Cagnardi et al., 2017; Melendez et al., 2019). However, the effect of castration procedure on the pharmacokinetics of meloxicam in goat kids has not been reported.…”