Effect of age on the pharmacokinetics of sulphadimidine in West African Dwarf (WAD) goats following a single intramuscular administration

Due to the low cost and effectiveness of sulphadimidine against a wide variety of animal diseases, it is still being widely used in veterinary medicine. The present study was carried out to determine the effect of age on the pharmacokinetics of sulphadimidine in West African Dwarf (WAD) goats following intramuscular route of administration. Eight (8) WAD goats separated into two groups of four animals consisting of two males and two female goats each were used. Sulphadimdine sodium was administered at a dose of 100 mg/kg body weight. The goats in group one (3 months of age) and goats in group two (2 years old) were administered the drug on the right gluteal muscle. The pharmacokinetic parameters in the 3 months old WAD goats such as the maximum concentration (Cmax) (88.52±6.07), elimination half life (T1/2β) (3.79±0.29 h), volume of distribution (Vd) (4.55±0.46 L/kg), total body clearance (Cl) (0.77±0.09 L/kg/h) and mean residence time (MRT) (4.57±0.48 h), were significantly (p<0.05) lower in comparison with Cmax (103±7.56), T1/2β (4.90 h), Vd (13.03±1.58 L/kg), Cl (1.91±0.26 L/kg/h) and MRT (7.10±0.73 h) of the 2 years old WAD goats. The pharmacokinetic parameters of sulphadimidine in the 3 months old WAD goats were significantly different from that of the 2 years old WAD goats. This may be due to the difference in their body fat and water content.