ABSTRACT
This study evaluated the effects of high and low dosages of medetomidine-ketamine in red-eared slider turtles (Trachemys scripta elegans) and the reversibility of the anesthesia with atipamezole. Thirty healthy adult turtles were assigned randomly to one of two dosage groups. The lower dosage group received 0.1 mg medetomidine/kg body weight intramuscularly (i.m.) combined with 5 mg ketamine/kg i.m. The higher dosage group received 0.2 mg medetomidine/kg i.m. combined with 10 mg ketamine/kg i.m. Physiologic parameters evaluated included heart rate, palpebral reflex, limb and neck relaxation, and cloacal temperature. Responses to minor procedures such as i.m. injection (0.1 ml 0.9% NaCl) and endotracheal intubation also were evaluated. In addition, the higher dosage group was evaluated for responsiveness to a skin incision and placement of a skin suture. Both dosage trials resulted in a level of anesthesia deep enough for performing a physical examination, minor procedures, and endotracheal intubation. The higher dosage produced a level of anesthesia sufficient for performing a skin incision and suture placement. Heart rate and cloacal temperatures remained stable throughout the entire procedure for both groups. Atipamezole was administered i.m. at five times the dose of medetomidine (0.5 mg/kg i.m. or 1 mg/kg i.m.) 60 min after the medetomidine-ketamine was administered. All of the turtles were swimming 60 min after atipamezole administration.
Subject(s)
Analgesics, Non-Narcotic/administration & dosage , Anesthesia/veterinary , Anesthetics, Dissociative/administration & dosage , Ketamine/administration & dosage , Medetomidine/administration & dosage , Turtles/physiology , Adrenergic alpha-Agonists/pharmacology , Animals , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Heart Rate/drug effects , Imidazoles/pharmacology , Injections, Intramuscular/veterinary , Intubation, Intratracheal/veterinary , Muscle, Skeletal/drug effects , Random AllocationABSTRACT
Ivermectin, a potent, effective anthelmintic, is easy to administer, has a broad spectrum of action and a wide safety margin. However, no testing has been done in hosts genetically selected for seizure susceptibility which may be more sensitive to the effects of ivermectin than other animals. This was done in the present experiments with seizure prone and seizure resistant mice infested with Syphacia obvelata (pinworm). These subjects were treated daily with oral ivermectin in their drinking water every other week for six weeks, for a total of 21 days. The treatment cleared the mice of the pinworm infestation, but did not alter the seizure susceptibility or binding parameters of [3H]flunitrazepam in either of the selected lines.
