Artemisinin alters disposition regularities of enrofloxacin and its metabolite ciprofloxacin in channel catfish (Ictalurus punetaus) following combined oral administration

The aim of this investigation was to explore the effect of artemisinin (ART) on pharmacokinetic (PK) and tissue distribution characteristics of enrofloxacin (ENR) and ciprofloxacin (CIP) in channel catfish following combined and single medicine. The channel catfish in ENR group were treated with ENR, and the fish in ENR-ART group were orally co-administrated with ENR and ART. ENR and CIP concentrations in channel catfish were determined using ultra performance liquid chromatography, and PK parameters for ENR and CIP were calculated by Win-Nonlin software. Moreover, the multi-drug resistance 1 (MDR1) gene expression and cytochrome P-450 3A (CYP 3A) enzyme activities in channel catfish liver were measured. The results showed that lower ENR and CIP levels were observed in ENR-ART group than that in ENR group, and similar regularities in PK parameters were also found that Cmax, AUC and MRT values in ENR group were all greater than those in ENR-ART group. Furthermore, higher MDR1 gene expression and CYP 3A enzyme activities in channel catfish liver were observed in ENR-ART group than those in ENR group. The present investigation indicates that ART can reduce the ENR concentrations, accelerate the excretion of ENR and decrease the antibacterial efficacy of ENR in channel catfish.