Physiochemical methods for pharmacokinetic and residue analysis of chloramphenicol and degradation products in dairy cows.

The disposition of chloramphenicol after intramammary and intravenous administration was followed through determinations of chloramphenicol in blood and milk by means of high-performance differential pulse polarography. The concentration-time curves obtained reflected the different modes of administration, and allowed calculation of some pharmacokinetic parameters. The results of the polarographic determination in blood agreed fairly well with those of the microbiological assay in serum. Several body fluids and tissues of the cows were examined for residues of chloramphenicol and degradation products, both by the microbiological method and by high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection. In urine, chloramphenicol and chloramphenicol glucuronide were found; in the other fluids and tissues only now and then a trace of chloramphenicol or a degradation product was detected. From these results it appears that chloramphenicol and degradation products are eliminated rapidly and completely after intravenous or intramammary application. No accumulation of degradation products occurred.