Can diarrhea affect the pharmacokinetics of racecadotril in neonatal calves?

This study was aimed to determine the pharmacokinetics of antisecretory-acting racecadotril, used in the treatment of diarrhea in humans and dogs, following oral administration in both neonatal calves with healthy and neonatal calves with infectious diarrhea. The study was carried out on a total of 24 Holstein calves (2–20 days), of which 6 were healthy and 18 were infectious diarrhea. Calves with infectious diarrhea were divided into 3 groups according to the infectious agent (Escherichia coli, Cryptosporidium parvum, and rotavirus/coronavirus). Racecadotril was administered orally at 2.5 mg/kg dose to calves. The plasma concentrations of racecadotril and its main active metabolite (thiorphan) were determined using HPLC-UV. The pharmacokinetic parameters were analyzed using the non-compartmental method. In healthy calves, the t1/2ʎz, Cmax, Tmax, and AUC0-12 of racecadotril were determined 4.70 h, 377 ng/ml, 0.75 h, and 1674 h × ng/ml, respectively. In the plasma of calves with infectious diarrhea, racecadotril and thiorphan were only detected at the sampling time from 0.25 to 1.5 h. As in calves with infectious diarrhea, thiorphan in plasma was only detected in healthy calves from 0.25 to 1.5 h. Racecadotril showed a large distribution volume, rapid elimination, and low metabolism to thiorphan in healthy calves.