Evaluation of two different etorphine doses combined with azaperone in blesbok (Damaliscus pygargus phillipsi) immobilisation

Journal of the South African Veterinary Association

 
 
Field Value
 
Title Evaluation of two different etorphine doses combined with azaperone in blesbok (Damaliscus pygargus phillipsi) immobilisation
 
Creator Gaudio, Eugenio Laubscher, Liesel L. Meyer, Leith C.R. Hoffman, Louwrens C. Raath, Jacobus P. Pfitzer, Silke
 
Subject Wildlife Medicine anaesthesia; antelope; azaperone; chemical immobilisation; etorphine; wildlife
Description Chemical immobilisation is essential for veterinarians to perform medical procedures in wild African ungulates. Potent opioids combined with neuroleptic drugs are most often used for this purpose. The present study aimed at comparing the quality of immobilisation and effects on physiological variables between a high (high etorphine-azaperone [HE]: 0.09 mg kg–1) and low etorphine dose (low etorphine-azaperone [LE]: 0.05 mg kg–1), both combined with azaperone (0.35 mg kg–1), in 12 adult female boma-acclimatised blesbok. It was hypothesised that a reduction in etorphine’s dose in combination with azaperone would result in less cardiorespiratory impairment but likely worsen the quality of immobilisation. Both treatments resulted in rapid induction and recovery times. Overall inter-treatment differences occurred in pulse rate (HE and LE: 52 ± 15 and 44 ± 11 beats minute–1, p 0.0001), respiratory rate (HE and LE: 15 ± 4 and 17 ± 4 breaths minute–1, p 0.006), partial pressure of exhaled carbon dioxide (HE and LE: 62.0 ± 5.0 and 60.0 ± 5.6 millimetre of mercury [mmHg], p 0.028) and arterial carbon dioxide (HE and LE: 58.0 ± 4.5 and 55.0 ± 3.9 mmHg, p 0.002). Both HE and LE led to bradycardia, hypertension and marked hypoxia to a similar extent. Furthermore, quality of induction, immobilisation and recovery were similar in both treatments. The role of azaperone in the development of cardiorespiratory compromise and gas exchange impairment that occurred when these combinations were used is still unclear. Further studies are recommended to elucidate drug- and dose-specific physiological effects in immobilised antelope.
 
Publisher AOSIS
 
Contributor University of Padova University of Stellenbosch Wildlife Pharmaceuticals (Pty) Ltd.
Date 2021-08-24
 
Type info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion — —
Format text/html application/epub+zip text/xml application/pdf
Identifier 10.4102/jsava.v92i0.2161
 
Source Journal of the South African Veterinary Association; Vol 92 (2021); 8 pages 2224-9435 1019-9128
 
Language eng
 
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https://journals.jsava.aosis.co.za/index.php/jsava/article/view/2161/2751 https://journals.jsava.aosis.co.za/index.php/jsava/article/view/2161/2752 https://journals.jsava.aosis.co.za/index.php/jsava/article/view/2161/2753 https://journals.jsava.aosis.co.za/index.php/jsava/article/view/2161/2754
 
Coverage South Africa — Species
Rights Copyright (c) 2021 Eugenio Gaudio, Liesel L. Laubscher, Leith C. R. Meyer, Louwrens C. Hoffman, Jacobus P. Raath, Silke Pfitzer https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
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