Point of Care Blood Gas and Electrolyte Analysis in Anesthetized Olive Baboons (Papio anubis) in a Field Setting

Abstract

Biotelemetry requires animal captures to deploy collars. Capture raises ethical concerns, as field chemical immobilizations are complex procedures, during which respiratory and metabolic disturbances frequently occur, which can disrupt cardiovascular, neurologic, and respiratory function. The use of tools and techniques to maximize animal safety and maintain physiological stability in anesthetized primates is crucial. We examined the use of blood gas and electrolyte analysis to enhance basic anesthesia monitoring in a field setting. We provide preliminary values for venous blood gas and electrolyte parameters (pH, partial pressure of CO 2 , base excess, bicarbonate, total CO 2 , sodium, potassium, ionized calcium, glucose, hematocrit, and hemoglobin) obtained using the iSTAT-1 analyzer and iSTAT CG8+ cartridges from 23 olive baboons (Papio anubis) captured in July 14-18, 2019, at Mpala Research Centre in Laikipia County, Kenya. We also tested for age and sex differences in the blood gas and electrolyte values. The reference values showed that some of the olive baboons experienced metabolic alkalosis with respiratory compensation, presumably as a result of chloride depletion through sweat from the high ambient temperatures. None of the measures showed significant variation by age or sex. We recommend providing shaded baited cage traps during capture to minimize risk of hyperthermia. Our findings suggest that rapid provision of blood gas and electrolyte parameters in a field setting augments basic anesthetic monitoring and translates to improved anesthetic protocols and safety of immobilized primates.