Diclazuril nonlinear mixed-effects pharmacokinetic modelling of plasma concentrations after oral administration to adult horses every 3-4 days.

The purpose of this study was to determine if a low dose of diclazuril (0.5mg/kg of 1.56% diclazuril pellets) given to six healthy adult horses every 3-4 days for a total of five administrations would achieve steady-state plasma concentrations known to be inhibitory to Sarcocystis neurona and Neospora caninum. Blood was collected via venipuncture immediately before (trough concentrations) and 10h after (peak concentrations) each diclazuril administration and analysed by high-pressure liquid chromatography. The mean population-derived peak concentration was 0.284μg/mL and the mean terminal half-life was 1.6 days, but with a large variation. Thus, low dose diclazuril pellets produce steady-state plasma drug concentrations known to inhibit S. neurona (0.001μg/mL) and N. caninum (0.1μg/mL).