EN
Ten lactating healthy cows received single oral doses of Fenbesan (7,6 mg kg⁻¹ b.w. of fenbendazole). Blood samples were collected at 0, 2, 4, 8, 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, 72, 84, 96, 108 and 120 h. Milk samples were taken twice daily from day 0 to 6 after drug administration. Fenbendazole (FBZ), oxfendazole (OXZ) and FBZ sulfone were analysed by HPLC with UV detection. The detection limit was 0,01 µg ml⁻¹ of FBZ and 0,005 µg ml⁻¹ of OXZ and FBZ-sulfone. The highest residues of FBZ, expressed as the sum of parent drug and metabolites were found after 24 and 36 h levels of 0,077 ± 0,01 µg ml⁻¹ and 0,114 ± 0,03 µg ml⁻¹ in milk and plasma respectively. The data show that the parent drug was present in measured quantities in plasma samples collected 8, 12 and 24 h after drug administration (Cmax 0,028 ± 0,008 µg ml⁻¹, Tmax 17,6 ± 0,4 h). In milk, FBZ was detected only 24 h after treatment (0,014 ± 0,006 µg ml⁻¹). This proves that metabolites (OXZ and FBZ-sulfone) dominate in milk and plasma residues. The total residues of FBZ in milk and plasma were below the detection limit by day 5 following a single oral administration of the drug.