CARDIORESPIRATORY EFFECTS OF VATINOXAN IN BLESBOK () IMMOBILIZED WITH THIAFENTANIL-MEDETOMIDINE.

Combinations of a low dose of opioid, such as thiafentanil, and a high dose of medetomidine, are increasingly being used for immobilization of African ungulates. Both drugs can have undesirable cardiorespiratory effects. In this study we assessed whether vatinoxan, a peripherally acting alpha-adrenergic receptor antagonist, can be used to alleviate some of these effects without affecting the immobilization quality.

Validation of a LC-MS/MS method to simultaneously quantify thiafentanil and naltrexone in plasma for pharmacokinetic studies in wildlife.

Thiafentanil is a popular opioid agonist that is fully reversed by administering naltrexone. This agonist-antagonist combination is administered to a wide variety of wildlife species for chemical immobilisation, however plasma concentrations for thiafentanil remain unreported. This report describes a method that was developed and validated using human plasma and cross-validated for the analysis of goat plasma.

Efficacy and safety of three different opioid-based immobilisation combinations in blesbok ().

African wildlife species are increasingly being immobilised with combinations of a low dose of potent opioids combined with medetomidine and azaperone. The physiological effects of these combinations in comparison to conventional potent opioidazaperone combinations have scarcely been evaluated. In this cross-over study conducted on eight captive blesbok, we compared the physiological variables of blesbok immobilised with 2 mg of thiafentanil + 10 mg of azaperone (TA); 0.

A comparison of immobilisation quality and cardiorespiratory effects of etorphine-azaperone versus etorphine-midazolam combinations in blesbok.

The study compared immobilisation of blesbok () with etorphine and azaperone vs etorphine and midazolam. Twelve female blesbok, weighing 59.4 ± 2.

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

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.

Immobilization of African buffaloes (Syncerus caffer) using etorphine-midazolam compared with etorphine-azaperone.

Objective: To compare induction times and physiological effects of etorphine-azaperone with etorphine-midazolam immobilization in African buffaloes.

Study Design: Randomized crossover study.

Animals: A group of 10 adult buffalo bulls (mean body weight 353 kg).

EVALUATING THE USE OF A BUTORPHANOL-AZAPERONE-MEDETOMIDINE FIXED-DOSE COMBINATION FOR STANDING SEDATION IN AFRICAN ELEPHANTS ().

This study investigated the use of a fixed-dose combination of 30 mg/ml butorphanol, 12 mg/ml azaperone, and 12 mg/ml medetomidine for the standing sedation of captive African elephants (). In total, seven females (mean age 19.6 yr; range 6-31 yr) and six males (mean age 33.

Comparison of some cardiopulmonary effects of etorphine and thiafentanil during the chemical immobilization of blesbok (Damaliscus pygargus phillipsi).

Objective: To determine the cardiopulmonary effects of etorphine and thiafentanil for immobilization of blesbok.

Study Design: Blinded, randomized, two-way crossover study.

Animals: A group of eight adult female blesbok.

Comparison of cardiopulmonary effects of etorphine and thiafentanil administered as sole agents for immobilization of impala (Aepyceros melampus).

Objective: To compare the cardiopulmonary effects of the opioids etorphine and thiafentanil for immobilization of impala.

Study Design: Two-way crossover, randomized study.

Animals: A group of eight adult female impala.

Do potent immobilising-opioids induce different physiological effects in impala and blesbok?

Potent opioids are known to cause negative alterations to the physiology of immobilised antelope. How these effects differ between species has not been studied. This study aimed to compare time to recumbence and effects of opioid-based immobilisation on the physiology of impala (Aepyceros melampus) and blesbok (Damaliscus pygargus phillipsi).

Immobilization quality and cardiopulmonary effects of etorphine alone compared with etorphine-azaperone in blesbok (Damaliscus pygargus phillipsi).

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.

Dose-effect study of the serotonin agonist R-8-OH-DPAT on opioid-induced respiratory depression in blesbok (Damaliscus pygargus philipsi) and impala (Aepyceros melampus).

Objective: To determine whether the R-enantiomer of 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino) tetralin (R-8-OH-DPAT) alleviates respiratory depression in antelope species immobilized with etorphine. The experiment also aimed to establish the most clinically effective dose of this serotonin 5- HT receptor agonist.

Animals: A group of six female blesbok and six female impala.

Pharmacokinetics and bioavailability after intramuscular injection of the 5-HT serotonin agonist R-8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino) tetralin (8-OH-DPAT) in domestic goats (Capra aegagrus hircus).

To determine the bioavailability and pharmacokinetic properties of the serotonin 5-HT receptor agonist R-8-OH-DPAT in goats, and 0.1 mg kg R-8-OH-DPAT hydrobromide was administered intramuscularly (i.m.

Evaluation of butorphanol-azaperone-medetomidine in captive cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) immobilization.

Objective: The butorphanol-azaperone-medetomidine fixed-dose combination (BAM, respectively, 30-12-12 mg mL) with subsequent antagonism by naltrexone-atipamezole was evaluated for reversible immobilization of captive cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus).

Study Design: Prospective, clinical trial.

Animals: Twelve cheetahs (six males and six females, weighing 37-57 kg) housed in enclosures, were immobilized at Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre in the Republic of South Africa.

Evaluation of butorphanol-azaperone-medetomidine (BAM) in captive blesbok immobilization (Damaliscus pygargus phillipsi).

Objective: The fixed-dose combination of butorphanol, azaperone and medetomidine (BAM; 30, 12 and 12 mg mL, respectively) with subsequent antagonism by naltrexone-atipamezole was evaluated for reversible immobilization of captive blesbok (Damaliscus pygargus phillipsi).

Study Design: Prospective, clinical trial.

Animals: Sixteen blesbok (four males and twelve females), weighing 52.

Evaluation of BAM (butorphanol-azaperone-medetomidine) in captive African lion (Panthera leo) immobilization.

Objective: The combination of butorphanol, azaperone and medetomidine (BAM) with subsequent antagonism by naltrexone-yohimbine or naltrexone-atipamezole was evaluated for reversible immobilization of captive African lions (Panthea leo).

Study Design: Prospective, clinical trial.

Animals: Twenty lions, 11 males and nine females, weighing 38-284 kg were immobilized in South Africa.

EVALUATION OF ETORPHINE AND MIDAZOLAM ANESTHESIA, AND THE EFFECT OF INTRAVENOUS BUTORPHANOL ON CARDIOPULMONARY PARAMETERS IN GAME-RANCHED WHITE RHINOCEROSES (CERATOTHERIUM SIMUM).

Nineteen white rhinoceroses ( Ceratotherium simum ) were anesthetized with 4 mg of etorphine hydrochloride; 35-40 mg of midazolam; and 7,500 international units of hyaluronidase for dehorning purposes at a game ranch in South Africa, to investigate this anesthetic combination. Median time to recumbency was 548 sec (range 361-787 sec). Good muscle relaxation and no muscle rigidity or tremors were observed in 18 animals, and only 1 individual showed slight tremors.

THE EFFECT OF A SLOW-RELEASE FORMULATION OF ZUCLOPENTHIXOL ACETATE (ACUNIL®) ON CAPTIVE BLUE WILDEBEEST (CONNOCHAETES TAURINUS) BEHAVIOR AND PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSE.

The study investigated the effect of a slow-release formulation of zuclopenthixol acetate (Acunil®) on blue wildebeest ( Connochaetes taurinus ) in captivity. Two groups of trials were conducted using either Acunil or a placebo (control). Animals (Acunil: n = 17; placebo: n = 12) were observed for a 12-hr period before the administration of Acunil or the placebo (pretreatment).

Validating a human biotelemetry system for use in captive blue wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus).

We fitted two blue wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus) with modified versions of the Equivital™ EQ02 wireless monitoring system to evaluate if the device could accurately measure heart rate and respiration rate in this species whilst anaesthetized as well as whilst fully conscious in captivity. Whilst under anaesthesia, we monitored each animal's heart rate and respiration rate using the Equivital™ biotelemetry belt, a Cardell(®) veterinary monitor and manual measurements. The animals were also administered doxapram hydrochloride (Dopram(®) ) and adrenaline intravenously at different times to stimulate changes in respiration and heart rate, respectively.

Intravenous butorphanol improves cardiopulmonary parameters in game-ranched white rhinoceroses (Ceratotherium simum) immobilized with etorphine and azaperone.

Abstract We immobilized 47 white rhinoceroses (Ceratotherium simum) for dehorning with 1-4 mg of etorphine HCl, 10-40 mg of azaperone, and 7,500 IU of hyaluronidase, at a game ranch in South Africa in November 2012. Forty-four received butorphanol intravenously 5 min after recumbency, at the rate of 10 mg of butorphanol per 1 mg of etorphine, and three animals did not. When possible, blood gas and physiologic parameters were measured immediately before butorphanol administration and 10 min later.

Rabies in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa--where are we going wrong?

Rabies is a growing problem in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. This study investigated dog ecology, vaccination coverage and rabies neutralising antibody levels in 203 randomly selected dogs within a local municipality in the former Transkei area. Responses to vaccination were also evaluated in 80 of these dogs.

Severe hypoxaemia in field-anaesthetised white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum) and effects of using tracheal insufflation of oxygen.

White rhinoceros anaesthetised with etorphine and azaperone combination develop adverse physiological changes including hypoxia, hypercapnia, acidosis, tachycardia and hypertension. These changes are more marked in field-anaesthetised rhinoceros. This study was designed to develop a technique to improve safety for field-anaesthetised white rhinoceros by tracheal intubation and oxygen insufflation.

Immobilisation of impala (Aepyceros melampus) with a ketamine hydrochloride/medetomidine hydrochloride combination, and reversal with atipamezole hydrochloride.

A combination of medetomidine hydrochloride (medetomidine) and ketamine hydrochloride (ketamine) was evaluated in 16 boma-confined and 19 free-ranging impalas (Aepyceros melampus) to develop a non-opiate immobilisation protocol. In free-ranging impala a dose of 220 +/- 34 microg/kg medetomidine and 4.4 +/- 0.

The epidemiology of tuberculosis in free-ranging African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) in the Kruger National Park, South Africa.

The presence of bovine tuberculosis (Mycobacterium bovis) in the Kruger National Park (KNP) was determined for the first time in 1990. It was diagnosed in an African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) bull, which was found recumbent and in an emaciated and moribund state near the south-western boundary fence. This prompted an investigation into the bovine tuberculosis (BTB) status of the KNP, with emphasis on its epidemiological determinants and risk factors.