Assessment of Single-Dose Pharmacokinetics of Oxolinic Acid in Rainbow Trout and Determination of In Vitro Antibacterial Activity Against Pathogenic Bacteria From Diseased Fish

Abstract

In response to the heightened risk of bacterial diseases in fish farms caused by increased demand for fish consumption and subsequent overcrowding, researchers are currently investigating the efficacy and residue management of oxolinic acid (OA) as a treatment for bacterial infections in fish. This research is crucial for gaining a comprehensive understanding of the pharmacokinetics of OA. The present study investigates pharmacokinetics of OA in juvenile rainbow trout. The fish were given a 12 mg kg⁻¹ dose of OA through their feed, and tissue samples were collected of the liver, kidney, gill, intestine, muscle, and plasma for analysis using LC-MS/MS. The highest concentrations of the drug were found in the gill (4096.55 μg kg⁻¹) and intestine (11592.98 μg kg⁻¹), with significant absorption also seen in the liver (0.36 L/h) and gill (0.07 L/h) (p < 0.05). The liver (0.21 L/h) and kidney (0.03 L/h) were found to be the most efficient (p < 0.05) at eliminating the drug. The study also confirmed the drug antimicrobial effectiveness against several bacterial pathogens, including Shewanella xiamenensis (0.25 μg mL⁻¹), Lactococcus garvieae (1 μg mL⁻¹), and Chryseobacterium aquaticum (4 μg mL⁻¹). The study concludes significant variations among different fish tissues, with higher concentrations and longer half-lives observed in the kidney and intestine. The lowest MIC value recorded against major bacterial pathogens demonstrated its therapeutic potential in aquaculture. It also emphasizes the importance of understanding OA pharmacokinetics to optimize antimicrobial therapy in aquaculture.