Fish and antibiotics: pharmacokinetics of sulphadimidine in carp (Cyprinus carpio).

Pharmacokinetics, metabolism and clearance of sulphadimidine (SDM) were studied after a single intraperitoneal injection of SDM in carp at 20 degrees C. SDM was acetylated and hydroxylated to a small extent. The main metabolite was N4-acetyl derivative amounting only 2% of the total drug dose excreted; hydroxylation was less important (0.41% of the dose). The elimination half-life for SDM in carp was 17.5 h. The clearance values for SDM and its metabolites were equivalent. The importance of pharmacokinetic studies in different fish species is discussed.