This communication reports a partially reversible chemical immobilization protocol used for translocation and veterinary care in giant otter (Pteronura brasiliensis; GO). Six GOs (three males and three females) weighing 24.8 +/- 4.0 kg (mean +/- SD) and ranging in age from 16 to 42 mo old were anesthetized with an i.m. combination of medetomidine (29 +/- 3 microg/kg) and ketamine (3.9 +/- 0.4 mg/kg). To perform all procedures, two otters required an additional dose of ketamine (1.5 mg/kg). Anesthesia was reversed with atipamezole i.m. (147 +/- 14 mg/kg). The mean induction time and recovery times were 12 +/- 5 and 4 min (range, 0-9 min), respectively, with an anesthesia time of 47 +/- 16 min. According to these results, the combination of medetomidine (30 microg/kg i.m.) and ketamine (4 mg/kg i.m.) is a reasonable choice for inducing anesthesia in GOs.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1638/2009-0174R1.1 | DOI Listing |
Res Vet Sci
January 2025
Animal Pathology Department, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, Miguel Servet 177, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain; Clinical Immunology Laboratory, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, Miguel Servet 177, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain. Electronic address:
Leishmaniosis, caused by Leishmania infantum and transmitted by sand flies, is a significant zoonotic disease. Dogs are primary reservoirs, but other domestic animals, such as cats and ferrets, and wild species, including Eurasian otters and European mink, can be hosts. This study focused on European mink, a critically endangered species, investigating the seroprevalence of L.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWilderness Environ Med
January 2025
Instituto de Investigación de Recursos Biológicos Alexander von Humboldt, Bogotá, Colombia.
Neotropical otters (Carnivora, Mustelidae) are widely distributed in Central and South America. Studies on the behavior of this species are rare, resulting in the fact that its ethology is one of the lesser known among the mustelids. The Neotropical otter is considered solitary and territorial but not aggressive, and it generally shows a shy and elusive behavior.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEvol Appl
January 2025
Organisms and Environment, School of Biosciences and Water Research Institute Cardiff University Wales UK.
Conservation efforts are leading to demographic growth and spatial expansion of some previously endangered species. However, past population bottlenecks or population size fluctuations can have lasting effects on effective population size ( ), even when census size ( ) appears large or recovered. The UK metapopulation of Eurasian otters () has a well-documented history of population recovery over recent decades, with indicators of presence (faeces and footprints) increasing in distribution and number over successive national surveys.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHeliyon
December 2024
Universidad Nacional, Costa Rica. Instituto Regional de Estudios en Sustancias Tóxicas (IRET), Costa Rica.
Antimicrobial resistance poses a growing threat to human health, yet its implications for wildlife remain a subject of ongoing research. River otters inhabiting the Peñas Blancas River face exposure to various anthropogenic activities in their habitat, potentially leading to the accumulation of antibiotic-resistant genes (ARGs) with unknown consequences for their health. This study aimed to identify specific ARGs in otter feces from this river basin, employing quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), DNA sequencing of ARGs, and phylogenetic analysis techniques.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAnn N Y Acad Sci
December 2024
Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
The semi-aquatic North American river otter (Lontra canadensis) has the unique challenge of navigating slippery algae-coated rocks. Unlike other river otter species, each rear paw of the North American river otter has a series of soft, circular, and keratinized plantar pads similar to the felt pads on the boots of fly fishermen. Surrounding these soft pads is a textured epidermal layer.
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