Evaluation of alfaxalone and midazolam with or without flumazenil reversal in Egyptian fruit bats (Rousettus aegyptiacus).

Objectives: To evaluate alfaxalone-midazolam anesthesia in Egyptian fruit bats (Rousettus aegyptiacus) and the effect of flumazenil administration on recovery time and quality.

Study Design: Randomized, blinded, crossover and controlled, experimental trial.

Animals: A total of 10 male Egyptian fruit bats.

Evaluation of injectable anaesthesia with five medetomidine-midazolam based combinations in Egyptian fruit bats ( Rousettus aegyptiacus).

Egyptian fruit bats are increasingly used as model animals in neuroscience research. Our aim was to characterize suitable injectable anaesthesia for this species, possibly replacing inhalant anaesthesia, thus minimizing occupational health hazards. Eight bats were randomly assigned by a crossover design for subcutaneously administered combinations of medetomidine-midazolam with: saline (MM-Sal), ketamine (MM-Ket), fentanyl (MM-Fen), morphine (MM-Mor), or butorphanol (MM-But).