Plasma concentrations of terbinafine in Kemp's ridley sea turtles (Lepidochelys kempii) peak at 24 hours after a single oral dose.

Oral terbinafine at 20 mg/kg achieves therapeutic plasma concentrations against relevant fungal pathogens in Kemp's ridley sea turtles.

This pharmacokinetic study evaluated the plasma disposition of terbinafine following a single oral dose (20 mg/kg) in 15 convalescent juvenile Kemp's ridley sea turtles (Lepidochelys kempii) undergoing rehabilitation for cold stunning. Using a sparse-sampling protocol over 120 hours with reverse-phase HPLC analysis and noncompartmental analysis, the study characterized key pharmacokinetic parameters. The maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) of 1.17 µg/mL was achieved at a time to maximum concentration (Tmax) of 24 hours, with a terminal half-life of 24.1 hours. The area under the concentration-time curve (AUC0-last) was 51.1 h•µg/mL and AUC0-inf was 53.8 h•µg/mL, with minimal extrapolation required (5.06%), indicating robust data capture. Critically, achieved plasma concentrations exceeded the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for several fungal pathogens previously documented in this species, suggesting terbinafine may be therapeutically relevant for treating fungal infections in Kemp's ridley sea turtles. The relatively prolonged half-life and adequate Cmax suggest potential for practical clinical dosing intervals. However, the study was limited to a single dose in rehabilitation animals, and further investigations are needed to assess steady-state plasma and tissue concentrations following repeated dosing, determine optimal dosing frequency, and evaluate clinical efficacy and safety in this vulnerable species. These findings provide foundational pharmacokinetic data to guide antifungal treatment protocols in sea turtle medicine.

This summary was distilled by AI and may occasionally misinterpret data. Confirm critical details with the primary literature before clinical application.