Establishing Dosing Requirements for an Anti-Fungal Medication in Young Sea Lions
- Pharmacokinetics
Abstract
The objective of this study was to establish a single‐dose pharmacokinetic profile for orally administered itraconazole in California sea lions (Zalophus californianus). Twenty healthy rehabilitated juvenile California sea lions were included in this study. Itraconazole capsules were administered orally with food at a target dose of 5–10 mg/kg. Blood samples were collected from each animal at 0 hr and at two of the following timepoints: 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 24, 48, and 72 hr. Quantitative analysis of itraconazole in plasma samples was performed by high‐performance liquid chromatography. An average maximum concentration of 0.22 µg/ml ± 0.11 was detected 4 hr after administration. The average concentration fell to 0.12 µg/ml ± 0.11 by 6 hr and 0.02 µg/ml ± 0.02 at 12 hr. At no point did concentrations reach 0.5 µg/ml, the concentration commonly accepted for therapeutic efficacy. While this formulation was well tolerated by the sea lions, oral absorption was poor and highly variable among individuals. These data indicate that a single oral dose of itraconazole given as a capsule at 5–10 mg/kg, under the conditions used in this study, does not achieve therapeutic plasma concentrations in California sea lions.
Scott, G., Field, C.L., Papich, M.G. and Harms, C.A., 2020. Plasma concentrations of itraconazole following a single oral dose in juvenile California sea lions (Zalophus californianus). Journal of Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics.
Meet The Experts
{"image":"\/People\/Portrait\/cara-field.jpg","alt":"Cara Field","title":"Cara Field","text":"Director, Conservation Medicine","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/person\/cara-field","link_text":"Read Bio"}
Related Publications
{"image":"\/Animals\/Patients\/Steller sea lions\/2021\/cropped-images\/ssl-colby-by-bill-hunnewell-c-the-marine-mammal-center-522-282-2488-1943-1625764944.jpg","alt":"Steller sea lion Colby","title":"Field Anesthesia of Juvenile Steller Sea Lions Using Inhalation Anesthesia","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/publications\/field-anesthesia-of-juvenile-steller-sea-lions-using-inhalation-anesthesia","label":"Research Paper"}
{"image":"\/Animals\/Patients\/Elephant seals\/2021\/cropped-images\/es-mizuna-by-bill-hunnewell-c-the-marine-mammal-center-5-70-2542-1985-1626807943.jpeg","alt":"northern elephant seal Mizuna","title":"Pharmacokinetic Study of Oral \u0190-Aminocaproic Acid in the Northern Elephant Seal","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/publications\/pharmacokinetic-study-of-oral-aminocaproic-acid-in-the-northern-elephant-seal","label":"Research Paper"}
Pharmacokinetic Study of Oral Ɛ-Aminocaproic Acid in the Northern Elephant Seal
Read More{"image":"\/Animals\/Patients\/Harbor seals\/2025\/cropped-images\/barrens-hs-photo-by-clive-beavis-c-the-marine-mammal-center-92-0-1270-992-1766172380.jpg","alt":"Pacific harbor seal","title":"Population pharmacokinetics of a single oral dose of gabapentin identifies rapid plasma clearance in rehabilitated Pacific harbor seal pups","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/publications\/population-pharmacokinetics-of-a-single-oral-dose-of-gabapentin-identifies-rapid-plasma-clearance-in-rehabilitated-pacific-harbor-seal-pups","label":"Research Paper"}
Population pharmacokinetics of a single oral dose of gabapentin identifies rapid plasma clearance in rehabilitated Pacific harbor seal pups
Read MoreRecent News
{"image":"\/Animals\/Patients\/Harbor seals\/2020\/cropped-images\/hs-barnwood-by-bill-hunnewell-c-the-marine-mammal-center-315-0-3299-2577-1607370547.jpg","alt":"harbor seal Barnwood","title":"Last-Minute Gift Guide \u2013 Top Gifts that Give Back to Marine Animals","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/last-minute-gift-guide","label":"News Update","date":"2025-12-18 01:00:00"}
Last-Minute Gift Guide – Top Gifts that Give Back to Marine Animals
December 18, 2025
Read More{"image":"\/Animals\/Patients\/Hawaiian monk seals\/2025\/cropped-images\/b-ru72admission-to-ke-kai-ola112125photo-c-the-marine-mammal-center-noaa-permit-24359-0-364-1270-992-1766095407.jpg","alt":"A newborn Hawaiian monk seal pup with a black coat in rehabilitative care.","title":"Newborn Hawaiian Monk Seal Pup Now Receiving Care","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/newborn-hawaiian-monk-seal-pup-now-receiving-care","label":"Patient Update","date":"2025-12-18 01:00:00"}
{"image":"\/Animals\/Patients\/Hawaiian monk seals\/2025\/cropped-images\/d-ru28release-exam-at-ke-kai-ola111025photo-by-giancarlo-rulli-c-the-marine-mammal-center-noaa-permit-24359-0-0-1270-992-1764620886.jpg","alt":"","title":"Bird Flu Vaccine Trial Offers Hope for Protecting Hawaiian Monk Seals","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/bird-flu-vaccine-trial-may-offer-hope-for-protecting-hawaiian-monk-seals","label":"News Update","date":"2025-12-01 08:13:00"}
Bird Flu Vaccine Trial Offers Hope for Protecting Hawaiian Monk Seals
December 1, 2025
Read More{"image":"\/Animals\/Patients\/Hawaiian monk seals\/2021\/hms-pp08-by-sheila-latta-c-the-marine-mammal-center-noaa-permit-18786.jpg","alt":"Hawaiian monk seal","title":"The New York Times: Inside the Bird-Flu Vaccine Trial for Monk Seals","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/the-new-york-times-inside-the-bird-flu-vaccine-trial-for-monk-seals","label":"In the News","date":"2025-12-01 01:00:00"}
The New York Times: Inside the Bird-Flu Vaccine Trial for Monk Seals
December 1, 2025
Read More