Midazolam as an Adjunctive Therapy for Capture Myopathy in Bar-Tailed Godwits (Limosa Lapponica Baueri) With Prognostic Indicators

Abstract

ABSTRACT:Capture myopathy is a complication of capture and handling in many species of birds and mammals. Muscular necrosis leads to ataxia, paralysis, and pain, whereas metabolic disturbances can result in death. We conducted an opportunistic clinical trial on Bar-tailed Godwits (Limosa lapponica baueri) that developed capture myopathy after a cannon-net capture in New Zealand in October 2008. We assessed the beneficial effects of midazolam, a benzodiazepine with the effects of anxiolysis, muscle relaxation, and sedation, in the adjunctive treatment of capture myopathy. Physical and biochemical parameters were analyzed retrospectively for their potential as indicators for survival until release. Birds (n516) were treated with subcutaneous fluid therapy, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory (meloxicam), gavage feeding, and sling therapy twice daily. The treatment group (n58) was treated twice daily with intramuscular midazolam injections, 1.5 mg/kg. Surviving godwits were released over 1-9 days, with 6 of 8 treated birds (75%) surviving to release, compared with 3 of 8 controls (38%). Inability to counteract weight loss in captivity was the most significant problem for both groups. Lack of waterproofing and predation were contributing causes of death for at least two godwits after release. Birds treated with midazolam showed subjective benefits including improved tolerance of handling and sling therapy. Clinical parameters (change in body mass, packed cell volume [PCV], plasma creatine kinase [CK], aspartate aminotransferase [AST], total protein, and uric acid [UA] over time) were not statistically different between groups, although peak average values for CK, AST, and UA were lower in the treatment group. Decline in body mass (%), PCV, final plasma UA, and peak plasma CK were the most useful prognostic indicators. Midazolam shows potential as an ancillary treatment for capture myopathy in birds and is worthy of continued study and use.

Field measurements give biased estimates of functional response parameters, but help explain foraging distributions

“…Immediately after capture (<5 min), the birds were lightly sedated with midazolam (2 mg kg −1 ), to avoid a stress response (Ward et al . ) and brought into the nearby indoor aviaries at the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ). They were kept there until their release in early July 2012.…”

“…Five adult female bar-tailed godwits were captured with 'wilsternets' (Piersma et al 2005) on 15 May 2012 near Oudeschild (53°05 0 N, 4°85 0 E) on the Wadden Sea island of Texel. Immediately after capture (<5 min), the birds were lightly sedated with midazolam (2 mg kg À1 ), to avoid a stress response (Ward et al 2011) and brought into the nearby indoor aviaries at the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ). They were kept there until their release in early July 2012.…”

Muscle damage and behavioral consequences from prolonged handling of albatross chicks for transmitter attachment

“…Increase of muscle enzyme levels in chicks on which transmitters were attached was associated with prolonged restraint. Generally, CK rises and falls rapidly within a few hours to days following muscle damage, whereas AST tends to rise more slowly and remain elevated for weeks (Hanley et al , Ward et al ). Differences in response times of these 2 enzymes support our model results where CK and AST were selected to best explain pre‐ and post‐fledging behavior, respectively, given the variables that we sampled.…”

“…Few studies have evaluated the effects of capture and handling events on blood chemistry or pre-and post-fledging behavior in chicks. Elevation of blood levels of AST and CK in birds from capture and handling starts within 1 hour and reaches a peak a few days later (Hanley et al 2005, Businga et al 2007, Ward et al 2011. Some studies have reported birds with skeletal muscle overload had elevated levels of AST and CK in blood (Work and Rameyer 1999, Guglielmo et al 2001, Navarro et al 2008.…”

Birds: Miscellaneous

“…For example, the use of both a Doppler flow detection device and an esophageal stethoscope to monitor heart rate. Anesthetic depth is determined using basic reflexes and responses; muscle and cloacal tone, pupil size, palpebral and corneal response, toe pinch, response to Intranasal midazolam (0.5-2.0 mg/kg) administration may be a rapid way to provide sedation in wild birds (Ward et al 2011). Propofol or alfaxalone can be used for short-term immobilization, as well as maintenance of anesthesia (Chapter 29) (Fig.…”