[A 4-week oral toxicity study of prulifloxacin (NM441) in dogs followed by a 4-week recovery test].

A repeated dose toxicity study of prulifloxacin, a new antibacterial agent, was conducted in beagle dogs. Male and female dogs were given the test material orally for 4 weeks at doses of 0 (control), 30, 150 and 750 mg/kg. After discontinuation of the treatment, a 4-week recovery test was also conducted. Feces containing white material were seen in the 150 and 750 mg/kg groups. Salivation, prone, lateral or sitting position, gait disturbance, and locomotor depression were observed in the 750 mg/kg group. In this dose group, decreased body weight and food and water consumptions were also observed. There were no treatment-related effects on survival. Ophthalmoscopic and electrocardiographic examinations and urinalysis failed to show any abnormalities related to the treatment. Hematologic examination showed decreased WBC in the 750 mg/kg group. Blood chemical examination revealed increased GPT and alpha 2-globulin in the 750 mg/kg group. Pathological changes caused by the treatment were as follows. Rarefaction of matrix, cavitations and erosions in humeral and femoral articular cartilages, and inflammatory cell infiltration in synovium were seen in the 150 and 750 mg/kg groups. Focal hemorrhage in synovium was also observed in the 750 mg/kg group. In kidney, regeneration of tubular epithelium, inflammatory cell infiltration, fibrosis and crystalline substance in the tubular lumen were observed in the 750 mg/kg group. The above-mentioned changes were satisfactorily reversible except for the changes in the humeral and femoral articular cartilages and in the kidney. Plasma levels and urinary concentrations of active metabolite of the test material were increased in all dose groups with dose-related manner, whereby no sex difference was observed. No effects caused by the repeated dosing were seen in the plasma concentrations. Toxicological findings were not observed in the 30 mg/kg group. The results show that the NOAEL of prulifloxacin is 30 mg/kg for 4-week repeated dose toxicity in dogs.