Estimation of absolute oral bioavailability of moxidectin in dogs using a semi‐simultaneous method: influence of lipid co‐administration

Moxidectin is a long‐acting anthelmintic drug for which little is known about its kinetic behaviour in dogs and its oral absolute bioavailability has never been reported. We studied the pharmacokinetics of moxidectin in dogs, with a special emphasis on oral bioavailability and the influence of lipid co‐administration, by using a semi‐simultaneous method of administration. Ten Beagle dogs were dosed orally and then intravenously (i.v.) with 0.2 mg/kg moxidectin. The oral application was conducted with or without corn oil co‐administration. Moxidectin concentration–time profiles in plasma were analysed using a compartmental modelling approach, designed to fit the oral and i.v. kinetic disposition curves simultaneously. In contrast to what happens in other species, our study indicates that the bioavailability of orally given moxidectin in dogs is nearly total (90.2 ± 7.4%), and is not enhanced by lipid co‐administration. The clearance, the volume of distribution, the mean residence time and the terminal half‐life were similar to what was already described for other species. Finally our trial suggests that the body condition (degree of obesity) is likely to be a major determinant of moxidectin kinetics in dogs because of its modulation of the volume of distribution that indirectly controls the terminal half‐life of the drug.