RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL COMPARING THE EFFECTS OF ALFAXALONE AND KETAMINE HYDROCHLORIDE IN THE HAITIAN GIANT GALLIWASP (CELESTUS WARRENI)

Abstract

The immobilization properties and cardiopulmonary effects following intramuscular administration of one of two chemical immobilization agents were compared in the Haitian giant galliwasp ( Celestus warreni) in a prospective, blinded, randomized controlled trial. Adult, clinically healthy galliwasps ( n = 30) were given a randomly assigned single intramuscular injection of either 15 mg/kg alfaxalone ( n = 15) or 40 mg/kg ketamine hydrochloride ( n = 15). Heart rate, respiratory rate, and depth classification stage were recorded every 5 min; cloacal temperature was recorded every 15 min to ensure maintenance within this species' preferred optimal temperature range (75-85°F, 24-29°C). Physical examination, radiographs, and phlebotomy were performed in all animals. Alfaxalone given intramuscularly resulted in reliable anesthetic induction, maintenance, and recovery (total duration of anesthesia 57.7 ± 23.6 min, recovery 7.9 ± 7.8 min). Ketamine hydrochloride resulted in variable levels of sedation or anesthesia and a longer recovery (total duration of anesthesia 14 ±17.5 min, recovery 47.9 ± 19.3 min). Heart and respiratory rates remained within clinically acceptable ranges in all lizards using both protocols; however, alfaxalone animals had lower heart rates and respiratory rates associated with increased anesthetic depth as compared to ketamine hydrochloride animals (heart rates: alfaxalone 59.6 ± 13.3 beats/min, ketamine hydrochloride 71.9 ± 7.9 beats/min; respiratory rates: alfaxalone 33.4 ± 16.8 breaths/min, ketamine hydrochloride 50.0 ± 16.2 breaths/min). Duration of anesthesia for alfaxalone-treated galliwasps was longer than previously reported in other studies. This study determined that a single injection of alfaxalone at 15 mg/kg administered intramuscularly can be used for consistent induction and maintenance of anesthesia and prompt recovery in the Haitian giant galliwasp, while ketamine hydrochloride even at 40 mg/kg was unreliable and is not recommended as a sole immobilization agent in the Haitian giant galliwasp.

Influência da anestesia na ocorrência de apneia em répteis: uma revisão sistemática

“…A maioria dos artigos que reportaram a aplicação de forma intramuscular (Bertelsen e Sauer, 2011;Hansen e Bertelsen, 2013;James et al, 2018;Kleinschmidt et al, 2018) Nos trabalhos que fizeram uso isolado ou em associação dos fármacos cetamina, tiletamina, medetomidina e dexmedetomidina, obtiveram-se resultados convergentes se tratando da aplicação intravenosa, uma vez que houve apneia em todos os animais (Harms et al, 2007;Harms et al, 2014). Em relação a aplicação intramuscular (Heaton-Jones, Ko e Heaton-Jones, 2002;Von Degerfeld, 2004;Santos et al, 2011;Hansen e Bertelsen, 2013;Kleinschmidt et al, 2018;Miller et al, 2018;Scheelings, Gatto e Reina, 2020) e subcutânea (Bunke, Sladky e Johnson, 2018;Yaw et al, 2020) os resultados são diversos, com animais que apresentaram apneia e outros que mesmo com a redução da frequência respiratória, não apresentaram.…”

“…A indução anestésica pela via intramuscular ou subcutânea são boas alternativas para os répteis, já que os acessos venosos podem ser complicados dependendo do tamanho do animal e também do seu temperamento, e a indução por agente inalatório pode ser prolongada pela ocorrência da apneia (Hansen e Bertelsen, 2013;Schroeder e Johnson, 2013;Kleinschmidt et al, 2018). Os anestésicos dissociativos, benzodiazepínicos e alfa-2 agonistas estão entre os mais utilizados nessa questão, porém alguns necessitam de doses elevadas para atingirem um plano anestésico adequado, acarretando em longos períodos de recuperação (Santos et al, 2011;Yaw et al, 2020).…”

A systematic study of injectable anesthetic agents in the brown anole lizard (Anolis sagrei )

“…The sedation levels achieved when alfaxalone or ketamine are administered to reptiles varies significantly. 12,[15][16][17][18][19][20][21] This variability is likely due to a combination of factors, such as differences in species sensitivity, drug combination, dose and method of delivery.…”