PHARMACOKINETICS OF MELOXICAM AFTER SINGLE ORAL AND INTRAMUSCULAR ADMINISTRATION IN CHINA ROCKFISH (SEBASTES NEBULOSUS).

Fish species are important for various purposes including aquaculture stock and display animals, but there are significant gaps in the medical knowledge regarding pharmacological parameters and effective pain management. Meloxicam is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that has been studied in few teleost species and with several administration routes. However, these species were typically freshwater or euryhaline fish, and evaluation in marine species is lacking. The pharmacokinetic properties of meloxicam were determined in nine adult China rockfish (Sebastes nebulosus), presumed healthy based on physical examination and benign medical histories. Based on a pilot study, China rockfish were given 1 mg/kg meloxicam via IM injection in the epaxial musculature, and, after a 48-h washout period, 1 mg/kg meloxicam was given by PO gavage. Blood samples were collected from the caudal vein at baseline and at nine time intervals over a 48-h time period following administration of meloxicam. Plasma meloxicam concentrations were determined by reverse phase high-performance liquid chromatography, and noncompartmental analysis was performed. The mean peak plasma concentration after IM injection was 4.9 µg/ml, and the mean terminal half-life was 5.0 h. The mean peak plasma concentration after PO administration was 0.07 µg/ml. Based on these findings, IM injected meloxicam reaches plasma levels consistent with therapeutic concentrations in select mammals, and peak levels were maintained for ≤12 h. Single-dose PO administration failed to achieve similar concentrations, and clinical practicality is unknown. Further studies evaluating NSAID multidose regimes and their pharmacodynamic effects may provide additional dosing information.

Neurologic examination of healthy adult African pygmy hedgehogs (Atelerix albiventris).

OBJECTIVE: To describe a modified approach to neurologic examination of African pygmy hedgehogs (Atelerix albiventris). ANIMALS: 12 adult hedgehogs (7 males and 5 females). PROCEDURES: Aspects of the standard neurologic examination of dogs and cats were evaluated for use with awake hedgehogs, and modified approaches to evaluating their normal behavior and mentation, select cranial nerves and refexes, and gait were then identified. Behavioral analysis and gait analysis were performed by using video recordings of hedgehogs in a novel environment. Performability and repeatability of all feasible aspects of the neurologic examination were assessed. RESULTS: Most aspects of the standard neurologic examination could be successfully performed, with repeatable results. However, certain aspects, especially those evaluating the pelvic limbs, were more difficult to perform successfully or were less repeatable. All hedgehogs lacked a menace response but displayed a contraction of the frontodorsalis muscle. Facial sensation testing was unreliable. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The entire standard neurologic examination could not be performed in hedgehogs. However, many aspects could be performed, and together they provided baseline data for neurologic examination of this species.