Plasma concentrations of chloramphenicol in birds.

The plasma concentrations of chloramphenicol after oral, IM, and IV administrations were studied in 15 species of birds. The biological half-lives of chloramphenicol ranged from 26 minutes in the pigeon, Columbia livia, to 288.3 minutes in the bald eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus. In those birds studied, the oral route gave low and inconsistent plasma chloramphenicol concentrations. The IM route was the most satisfactory. Based on the data presented, an IM dose of 50 mg/kg would produce plasma concentrations above 1 micrograms/ml for 8 to 12 hours, except in the pigeon, macaw, conure.