Pharmacokinetics analysis of oxytetracycline in climbing perch (Anabas testudineus)

The climbing Perch (Anabas testudineus) is one of the most important aquaculture species in Asia, with a significant contribution to the world fish basket. Pharmacokinetics of oxytetracycline (OTC) are important in the determination of optimal dosage regimens in farmed fishes. The growing contribution of the sector towards food security and poverty alleviation, nutrition, generation of employment opportunities, socio-economic development and livelihood of millions of people across the globe has gained considerable recognition in the recent decades. The present study was carried out to evaluate the pharmacokinetics of oxytetracycline (OTC) after single-dose intraperitoneal (i/p) administration in climbing perch (Anabas testudineus). For the pharmacokinetic study, fishes of both sexes were randomly categorized into a control group (Normal saline) and test group comprising of six fishes each group. The test group was administered with a single dose of 80 mg kg-1 body weight by i/p. The concentrations of OTC were determined using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) was employed to determine OTC concentrations in plasma after processing blood. The pharmacokinetic results were found to fit into a two-compartment open model with a t1/2 β of 5.01 h, (Maximum concentration) Cmax of 221.84 μg ml-1 and (Time at which maximum concentration attained) Tmax of 0.83 h. The mean half-life of absorption, distribution and elimination was 0.34±0.05 h, 1.29±0.88 h, 5.01±0.29 h respectively. All these data can be utilized for the better treatment and management of climbing perch culture.