IN VITRO METABOLISM OF SUI.JFAMETHOXAZOLE BY RUMINAL MICROFLORA OF DOMESTIC RUMINANATS

Abstract

The metabolis1� n of sulfamethoxazole by ruminal microflora of domestic ruminants (i.e. buffalo, cow, goat and sheep) was investigated by in vitro incubation of 40 JLg!ml drug with the ruminal fluid. The incubated samples were analysed at different time intervals to measure the amount of free and N4 acetyl metabolite of the drug. In the initial phase rate of drug metabolism was slow and after 2.5 hours it was maximum in all the species. The average ± SD percent of the remaining un-metabolized drug until2.5 hours was 76.37 ± 1.68, 82.16 ± 1.88, 65.29± 1.88 and 83.49±0.69 percent in buffalo, cow, goat and sheep, respectively. Average amount of N4 acetyl metabolite produced by the ruminal microflora until 2.5 hours after incubation of ruminal liquor from buffaloes, cows, goats and sheep was 24, 18, 35 and 17 percent, respectively.