Chemical capture of wild swamp buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) in tropical northern Australia using thiafentanil, etorphine and azaperone combinations.

BACKGROUND: Studying wild animals in situ is fundamental to collecting baseline information, but generally they need to be immobilised for examination, sampling, marking and/or equipping with tracking apparatus. Capturing wild animals is inherently risky and there is a need for immobilisation methods that are safe for both the animals and researchers. METHODS: A total of 16 free-ranging swamp buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) were chemically captured by dart for the application of satellite tracking collars in tropical northern Australia; 7 animals were anesthetised with a thiafentanil-etorphine-azaperone (TEA) combination and 9 animals with a thiafentanil-azaperone (TA) combination. Anaesthesia was reversed with intravenous naltrexone. Mean dosages of etorphine and thiafentanil for animals in the TEA group were 0.01 mg/kg of each drug and mean dosage of thiafentanil for animals in the TA group was 0.02 mg/kg. Total dose per animal of azaperone and naltrexone was 80 mg and 150 mg, respectively. Anaesthetic monitoring was by physical observation of physiological variables, pulse oximetry and capnography. Blood laboratory parameters including creatine kinase (CK), aspartate transaminase (AST), serum bicarbonate and anion gap were measured. RESULTS: All subject animals recovered well from anaesthesia despite the occurrence of subclinical acidosis in some patients. There was no significant difference between the treatment groups. Conversely, chase time had an adverse effect on body temperature, irrespective of the anaesthetic combination used. CONCLUSIONS: Thiafentanil and azaperone, with or without etorphine, delivered rapid safe, effective, reversible field anaesthesia in healthy swamp buffalo.

[Perioperative intensive-medical investigations regarding compatibility of the ketamine-azaperone-general anesthesia in pigs]. / Perioperative intensivmedizinische Untersuchungen zur Verträglichkeit der Ketamin-Azaperon-AIIgemeinanästhesie beim Schwein.

was observed. Perioperatively oxygen saturation was persistently high and mean arterial pressure was steady, too. An additional Ketamine administration caused a short tachycardia during operation. After restoration of total mobility, respiratory and heart rate stayed within the reference ranges again. All EMG values in between those caused by pain stimuli were significantly below the borderline of a muscle activity in conformity with a clinically visible complete muscle relaxation. Cortisol increased simultaneously with Ketamine and Azaperone before operation, but it remained at this level until the end of the determinations, parallel to the course of Norketamine, close to the maximum before anesthesia. The complex intensive-medical monitoring confirms that under real surgical conditions the counter-regulatory effects of both drugs equalize the respective cardiovascular and respiratory side effects. It is concluded also that the increase of cortisol is likely to be more a side effect of Ketamine/Norketamine than the expression of distress by surgical interventions or by wake-up reactions, and that an intoxication by additional Ketamine dosage or motoric disorders (i.e., catalepsis) can be excluded as undesired side effects of both drugs.

Use of haloperidol and azaperone for stress control in roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) captured by means of drive-nets.

The physical capture of wild ungulates is performed for different purposes when anaesthesia in field conditions is not possible or advisable. The use of tranquilizers may contribute to improved welfare of captured animals. We studied the effect of haloperidol and azaperone on the stress response of roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) through the study of physiological, haematological and serum biochemical parameters. Thirty one roe deer were drive-net captured and randomly injected with haloperidol (0.30+/-0.04 mg/kg IM; n=13), azaperone (0.43+/-0.07 mg/kg IM; n=11) or saline (0.5 mL IM; n=7), and restrained for 3h. The interindividual variability of heart rate was lower in the treated deer, suggesting a calming effect, and erythrocyte and biochemical parameters indicated vasodilation, splenic sequestration, hemodilution, improvement of renal perfusion and a protective effect on muscle. These results support the suitability of using either azaperone or haloperidol in capture operations of roe deer, in order to reduce stress and prevent its adverse effects.

A new porcine model of reperfusion injury after lung transplantation.

Rodent models have been described to investigate lung preservation and reperfusion injury but have significant disadvantages. In large animals single lung transplant studies are probably optimal but problems remain over the ability to rigorously separate the lungs for assessment while promoting medium to long-term animal survival for meaningful investigation. Our aim was to develop a novel and refined large animal model to assess reperfusion injury in the transplanted lung, overcoming the difficulties associated with existing models. Specifically, small animal models of lung transplantation usually have short perfusion times (often one hour) and include extracorporeal circuits while larger animal models often require the contralateral lung to be excluded after transplantation-an unphysiological situation under which to evaluate the graft. A porcine model of left lung allotransplantation was developed in which native and donor lungs are individually ventilated. Sampling catheters placed within the graft lung allowed specimen withdrawal without mixing of blood from the contralateral lung after reimplantation. The model permits a variety of clinical scenarios to be simulated with the native lung supporting the animal irrespective of function in the graft. This model has been used in over 60 transplant procedures with a postoperative survival time of 12 h being readily achieved. The mean operating time was 2.6 h. The mortality rate is 4% in our series. We have found the model to be reliable, reproducible and flexible. We propose this model as an adaptable investigation for evaluating lung reperfusion injury and preservation.

An analysis of some behavioural effects of the vibration and noise components of transport in pigs.

The reactions of pigs to the vibration and noise components of transport were examined with the use of an apparatus which simulated these factors. The pigs were trained to switch off the apparatus by pressing a switch panel with their snouts. It was found that vibration was aversive but that noise was not. The pigs switched off the apparatus more frequently when the vibration was fast and when they had been fed a large meal before the test. Although the sedative tranquillizing drug azaperone decreased the number of times the apparatus was switched off, the effect appeared to be non-specific because azaperone also reduced the number of responses that pigs would make in order to receive food.

[Tranquilizers in the transport of slaughtering pigs: a problem of residues?]. / Tranquillizers bij transport van slachtvarkens: een residuprobleem?

Selection of a meatier type of pig previously gave rise to problems during transport because of susceptibility to stress. A symptomatic approach of the problem resulted in administration of tranquilizers prior to transport. The properties of the tranquillizers azaperone and propiopromazine are discussed, as are the results of studies on residues. It is concluded that the residues detected so far are not detrimental to public health. In view of other possible approaches designed to prevent or reduce injury due to transport, the use of tranquillizers not strictly indicated is undesirable.