The disposition kinetics, urinary excretion and dosage regimen of amikacin in cross-bred bovine calves.

The disposition kinetics, urinary excretion and dosage regimen of amikacin after a single intravenous administration of 10 mg/kg was investigated in six cross-bred bovine calves. At 1 min, the concentration of amikacin in the plasma was 116.9 +/- 3.16 micrograms/ml and the minimum therapeutic concentration was maintained for 8 h. The elimination half-life and volume of distribution were 3.09 +/- 0.27 h and 0.4 +/- 0.03 L/kg, respectively. The total body clearance (ClB) and T/P ratio were 0.09 +/- 0.002 L/kg/h and 4.98 +/- 0.41, respectively. Approximately 50% of the total dose of amikacin was recovered in the urine within 24 h after administration. Amikacin in concentrations ranging from 5 to 150 micrograms/ml bound to plasma proteins to the extent of 6.32% +/- 0.42%. A satisfactory intravenous dosage regimen of amikacin in bovine calves would be 13 mg/kg followed by 12 mg/kg at 12 h intervals.