Abstract
Objective
To evaluate the immobilization quality and cardiopulmonary effects of etorphine alone
compared with etorphine–azaperone in blesbok (Damaliscus pygargus phillipsi).
Study design
Blinded, randomized, crossover design.
Animals
A total of 12 boma-habituated female blesbok weighing [mean ± standard deviation (SD)]
57.5 ± 2.5 kg.
Methods
Each animal was administered etorphine (0.09 mg kg–1) or etorphine–azaperone (0.09 mg kg–1; 0.35 mg kg–1) intramuscularly with 1-week intertreatment washout period. Time to first sign of
altered state of consciousness and immobilization time were recorded. Physiological
variables were recorded, arterial blood samples were taken during a 40-minute immobilization
period, and naltrexone (mean ± SD: 1.83 ± 0.06 mg kg–1) was intravenously administered. Recovery times were documented, and induction, immobilization
and recovery were subjectively scored. Statistical analyses were performed; p < 0.05 was significant.
Results
No difference was observed in time to first sign, immobilization time and recovery
times between treatments. Time to head up was longer with etorphine–azaperone (0.5
± 0.2 versus 0.4 ± 0.2 minutes; p = 0.015). Etorphine caused higher arterial blood pressures (mean: 131 ± 17 versus 110 ± 11 mmHg, p < 0.0001), pH, rectal temperature and arterial oxygen partial pressure (59.2 ± 7.7
versus 42.2 ± 9.8 mmHg), but lower heart (p = 0.002) and respiratory rates (p = 0.01). Etorphine–azaperone combination led to greater impairment of ventilatory
function, with higher end-tidal carbon dioxide (p < 0.0001) and arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide (58.0 ± 4.5 versus 48.1 ± 5.1 mmHg). Immobilization quality was greater with etorphine-azaperone than
with etorphine alone (median scores: 4 versus 3; p < 0.0001).
Conclusions and clinical relevance
Both treatments provided satisfactory immobilization of blesbok; however, in addition
to a deeper level of immobilization, etorphine–azaperone caused greater ventilatory
impairment. Oxygen supplementation is recommended with both treatments.
Keywords
To read this article in full you will need to make a payment
Purchase one-time access:
Academic & Personal: 24 hour online accessCorporate R&D Professionals: 24 hour online accessOne-time access price info
- For academic or personal research use, select 'Academic and Personal'
- For corporate R&D use, select 'Corporate R&D Professionals'
Subscribe:
Subscribe to Veterinary Anaesthesia and AnalgesiaAlready a print subscriber? Claim online access
Already an online subscriber? Sign in
Register: Create an account
Institutional Access: Sign in to ScienceDirect
References
- Cardiovascular effects of etorphine, azaperone, and butorphanol combinations in chemically immobilized captive white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium Simum).J Zoo Wildl Med. 2016; 47: 834-843
- Adverse effects of opioid agonists and agonist-antagonists in anaesthesia.Drug Saf. 1998; 19: 173-189
- The pressure of aqueous vapour in the alveolar air.J Physiol. 1932; 3: 35-48
- Measurement of methane and carbon dioxide emissions from ruminants based on the NDIR technique.Guang Pu Xue Yu Guang Pu Fen Xi. 2010; 30: 1503-1506
- Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia: The Fifth Edition of Lumb and Jones.John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Ames, IA, USA2015: 1061
- Regulation of breathing and autonomic outflows by chemoreceptors.Comp Physiol. 2014; 4: 1511-1562
- Opioids in zoological medicine.J Zoo Wildl Med. 1990; 21: 391-413
- The caprine oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve.Res Vet Sci. 2006; 80: 103-108
- Comparative cardiovascular effects of intravenous etorphine and carfentanil in goats.J Zoo Wildl Med. 1990; 21: 166-170
- Mechanisms of atelectasis in the perioperative period.Best Pract Res Clin Anaesthesiol. 2010; 24: 157-169
- Ameliorating the adverse cardiorespiratory effects of chemical immobilization by inducing general anaesthesia in sheep and goats: implications for physiological studies of large wild mammals.J Comp Physiol Compar B. 2018; 188: 991-1003
- Evaluation of a rapid determination of fasting heat production and respiratory quotient in Holstein steers using the washed rumen technique1.J Anim Sci. 2013; 91: 4267-4276
- Chemical and physical restraint of wild animals.in: International Wildlife Veterinary Services (Africa). 2nd edn. 2012 (Greyton, South Africa)
- Collateral ventilation may protect against high-altitude pulmonary hypertension.J Appl Physiol. 1981; 51: 1251-1256
- Effects of azaperone on cardiovascular and respiratory functions in the horse.Br J Pharmacol. 1976; 56: 263-269
- Use of haloperidol and azaperone for stress control in roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) captured by means of drive-nets.Res Vet Sci. 2010; 88: 531-535
- Thermal, cardiorespiratory and cortisol responses of impala (Aepyceros melampus) to chemical immobilisation with 4 different drug combinations.J S Afr Vet Assoc. 2008; 79: 121-129
- Hypoxia following etorphine administration in goats (Capra hircus) results more from pulmonary hypertension than from hypoventilation.BMC Vet Res. 2015; 11: 18
- Age-related changes in arterial blood-gas variables in Holstein calves at moderate altitude.Open Access Anim Physiol. 2014; 6: 13-20
- Atelectasis causes gas exchange impairment in the anaesthetised horse.Eq Vet J. 1990; 22: 317-324
- Lactate in Veterinary Critical Care: Pathophysiology and Management.J Am Anim Hosp Assoc. 2007; 43: 270-279
- Butorphanol and azaperone as a safe alternative for repeated chemical restraint in captive white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum).J Zoo Wildl Med. 2012; 31: 196-200
- Acute renal response to rapid onset respiratory acidosis.Can J Physiol Pharmacol. 2011; 89: 227-231
- Veterinary Pharmacology & Therapeutics.9th edn. Wiley-Blackwell, Iowa, USA2009
- Cardiovascular effects of etorphine in rats.J Auton Pharmacol. 1988; 8: 39-43
- Mechanisms of hypoxemia.Lung India. 2017; 34: 47-60
- Arterial chemoreceptors and sympathetic nerve activity: implications for hypertension and heart failure.Hypertens. 2007; 50: 6-13
- Evaluation of butorphanol–azaperone–medetomidine (BAM) in captive blesbok immobilization (Damaliscus pygargus phillipsi).Vet Anaesth Analg. 2018; 45: 496-501
- Aspiration lung disorders in bovines: A case report and review.J S Afr Vet Ass. 2012; 83: 1-7
- Respiratory and circulatory parameters of African elephants (Loxodonta africana) anaesthetised with etorphine and azaperone.J S Afr Vet Assoc. 1996; 67: 123-127
- Drugs used for the immobilization, capture, and translocation of wild animals.in: McKenzie A.A. The Capture and Care Manual. The South African Veterinary Foundation. 1993: 3-59 (Pretoria, South Africa)
- Pregnancy-induced hypertension: Development of a model in the pregnant sheep.Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1986; 155: 201-207
- Sedation and chemical restraint of deer.N Z Vet J. 2002; 50: 228-236
- Evaluation of butorphanol, medetomidine and midazolam as a reversible narcotic combination in free-ranging African lions (Panthera leo).Vet Anaest Analg. 2010; 37: 491-500
- Chemical capture of impala (Aepyceros melampus): A review of factors contributing to morbidity and mortality.Vet Anaest Analg. 2017; 44: 991-1006
- Comparison of thiafentanil-medetomidine to etorphine-medetomidine immobilisation of impalas (Aepyceros melampus).J S Afr Vet Assoc. 2017; 88: 1-8
Article info
Publication history
Published online: April 01, 2020
Accepted:
October 7,
2019
Received:
April 16,
2019
Identification
Copyright
© 2020 Association of Veterinary Anaesthetists and American College of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
