Ciprofloxacin enhances therapeutic levels of voriconazole through CYP450 inhibition in the common raven (Corvus corax), possibly improving efficacy against aspergillosis: a pilot study.

Objective: To determine if a cytochrome (CYP) P450 enzyme inhibitor can maintain therapeutic plasma levels of voriconazole when administered orally.

Animals: 11 healthy, common ravens (Corvus corax).

Methods: Birds were randomly assigned to pilot study groups to receive voriconazole orally alone or combined with a CYP inhibitor.

Mass spectrometric methods for evaluation of voriconazole avian pharmacokinetics and the inhibition of its cytochrome P450-induced metabolism.

Invasive fungal aspergillosis is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in many species including avian species such as common ravens (). Methods were developed for mass spectral determination of voriconazole in raven plasma as a means of determining pharmacokinetics of this antifungal agent. Without further development, GC/MS/MS (gas chromatography-tandem quadrupole mass spectrometry) proved to be inferior to LC/MS/MS (liquid chromatography-tandem quadrupole mass spectrometry) for measurement of voriconazole levels in treated raven plasma owing to numerous heat-induced breakdown products despite protection of voriconazole functional groups with trimethylsilyl moieties.

Single oral or intravenous administration of voriconazole achieved recommended therapeutic minimum inhibitory concentrations against Aspergillus in the common raven (Corvus corax).

Objective: To determine the pharmacokinetics of voriconazole after single IV or orally administered boluses in common ravens (Corvus corax).

Animals: 8 healthy common ravens.

Procedures: Voriconazole (5 mg/mL, 10 mg/kg IV) was administered to 8 birds, and then plasma voriconazole concentrations were measured at various time points by high-pressure liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry.