Plasma disposition and faecal excretion of oxfendazole, fenbendazole and albendazole following oral administration to donkeys

Fenbendazole (FBZ), oxfendazole (fenbendazole sulphoxide, FBZSO), and albendazole (ABZ) were administered orally to donkeys at 10 mg/kg bodyweight. Blood and faecal samples were collected from 1 to 120 h post-treatment. The plasma and faecal samples were analysed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The parent molecule and its sulphoxide and sulphone (FBZSO2) metabolites did not reach detectable concentrations in any plasma samples following FBZ administration. ABZ was also not detected in any plasma samples, but its sulphoxide and sulphone metabolites were detected, demonstrating that ABZ was completely metabolised by first-pass mechanisms in donkeys. Maximum plasma concentrations (Cmax) of FBZSO (0.49 μg/mL) and FBZSO2 (0.60 μg/mL) were detected at (tmax) 5.67 and 8.00 h, respectively, following administration of FBZSO. The area under the curve (AUC) of the sulphone metabolite (10.33 μg h/mL) was significantly higher than that of the parent drug FBZSO (5.17 μg h/mL). Cmax of albendazole sulphoxide (ABZSO) (0.08 g/mL) and albendazole sulphone (ABZSO2) (0.04 μg/mL) were obtained at 5.71 and 8.00 h, respectively, following ABZ administration. The AUC of the sulphoxide metabolite (0.84 μg h/mL) of ABZ was significantly higher than that of the sulphone metabolite (0.50 μg h/mL). ghest dry-faecal concentrations of parent molecules were detected at 32, 34 and 30 h for FBZSO, FBZ and ABZ, respectively. The sulphide metabolite was significantly higher than the parent molecule after FBZSO administration. The parent molecule was predominant in the faecal samples following FBZ administration. After ABZ administration, the parent molecule was significantly metabolised, probably by gastrointestinal microflora, to its sulphoxide metabolite (ABZSO) that showed a similar excretion profile to the parent molecule in the faecal samples. The AUC of the parent FBZ was significantly higher than that of FBZSO and ABZ in faeces. It is concluded that the plasma concentration of FBZSO was significantly higher than that of FBZ and ABZ. Although ABZ is not licensed for use in Equidae, its metabolites presented a greater plasma kinetic profile than FBZ which is licensed for use in horses. A higher metabolic capacity, first-pass effects and lower absorption of benzimidazoles in donkeys decrease bioavailability and efficacy compared to ruminants.