The pharmacokinetics inquiries of apramycin were evaluated after receiving a single
intravenous (IV) and single oral (PO) dosage in healthy broiler chickens. The serum
concentration was measured using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The
kinetic parameters showed that apramycin suggested a two compartments open model
following a single intravenous administration of 10 mg/kg b.wt, with distribution half-life
(t0.5α) of 0.24 ± 0.04h, elimination half-life (t0.5β ) was 5.45 ± 0.47h, steady state volume f
distribution (Vdss) was 0.970 ± 0.049 L/kg and 0.083 ± 0.003 L/kg/hr for total body
clearance (CLtot). After administering a single oral dose of 25 mg apramycin/kg b.wt, the
kinetic parameters revealed that the drug was rapidly absorbed by the chickens alimentary
canal. This was evidenced by the absorption half-life (t0.5 (ab)) of 1.51± 0.09 hours,
Maximum level of serum concentrations Cmax was 3.255 ± 0.03 μg/ml that was achieved at
maximum time Tmax 2.59± 0.03h and the elimination half-life {t0.5 (β)} was 1.93± 0.15 h. The
absolute systemic bioavailability (F %) was 11.60±1.2 % indicating a poor absorption of
apramycin following oral administration. It was concluded that apramycin is advised for
treating enteric infections in chickens.