Short communication: Use of an ultrafiltration device in gland cistern for continuous sampling of healthy and mastitic quarters of lactating cattle for pharmacokinetic modeling

ABSTRACT Pharmacokinetic studies of the drugs in the milk are often limited due to infrequent sampling associated with milking. Alternatively, frequent sample collection with repeated milking may increase drug elimination. The objective of this study was to determine the feasibility of continuously sampling the udder using ultrafiltration. An ultrafiltration probe was placed into the gland cisterns through mammary parenchyma of normal and mastitic quarters of 6 mature mid-lactation Jersey cows with naturally occurring subclinical mastitis. An ultrafiltration probe was secured to the caudal or lateral aspect of the udder depending on the quarter being sampled. The timed interval samples were collected at 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 18, 24, 28, 32, 36, 48, 60, 72, 84, and 96 h after drug administration. Plasma samples were collected at the same time points. Each cow received 2.2 mg/kg of flunixin intravenously before milking at time 0. All cows were routinely milked by machine every 12 h. Flunixin concentrations in plasma, whole milk, and milk ultrafiltrates were analyzed by use of ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography with mass spectrometric detection. We found no significant effects on the appearance of the milk or the ability to milk the cows after implantation of the ultrafiltration probes. The concentration of flunixin collected from the ultrafiltration probes in the mastitic quarters tended to be greater than that of the healthy quarters. We concluded that collection of ultrafiltration samples from the mammary gland of cows provides a viable means to continuously assess drug concentrations in the milk while continuing to milk the cow normally. This study demonstrates the utility of continuous sampling of milk via ultrafiltration for future pharmacokinetic studies in cattle.