Residue study of ivermectin in plasma, milk, and mozzarella cheese following subcutaneous administration to buffalo (Bubalus bubalis).

The distribution of ivermectin in buffalo plasma and milk after administration of a single subcutaneous dose (0.2 mg kg(-)(1) b.w.) was studied. Ivermectin reached the maximal concentration in plasma (28.5 +/- 1.7 ng mL(-)(1)) and milk (23.6 +/- 2.6 ng mL(-)(1)) after 2.4 +/- 0.32 and 2.8 +/- 0.44 days, respectively. The drug showed a parallel disposition in milk and plasma, with a ratio of 1.12 +/- 0.16. Ivermectin concentrations were detected in mozzarella cheese obtained from milk collected on days 1, 3, 4, and 20 following administration. The highest values (81.4 +/- 3.26 ng g(-)(1)) were found in the cheese produced on day 3 and were 4-fold higher than those present in the milk.