Pharmacokinetics of marbofloxacin after a single oral dose to loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta)

The single-dose disposition kinetics of marbofloxacin (MBX) were determined in clinically healthy loggerhead sea turtles (n = 5) after oral (PO) administration of 2 mg kg⁻¹ bodyweight. Marbofloxacin plasma concentrations were determined by DAD–HPLC (LOD/LOQ 0.015/0.05 μg ml⁻¹). Data were subjected to non-compartmental analysis. Following PO administration, marbofloxacin achieved maximum plasma concentrations of 11.66 ± 2.53 mg L⁻¹ at 15.00 ± 3.00 h. The absence of general adverse reactions in the turtles of the study, and the favourable pharmacokinetic properties (long half-life and high maximum plasma concentration) of MBX administered PO at the single-dose of 2 mg kg⁻¹ suggest the possibility of its safe and effective clinical use in loggerhead sea turtles.