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

Chronic captivity stress in wild animals is highly species-specific

“…Tranquilizers did not impact any physiological variable in newly caught impala (Knox et al ., 1990) or red-necked wallabies (Holz and Barnett, 1996), although they reduced behavioral agitation to human approach and handling in the later study. Similarly, a long-acting tranquilizer changed behavior but not heart rate response to human approach in captive wildebeest (Laubscher et al ., 2016). The anxiolytic and sedative diazepam did not affect GCs, heart rate, heart rate variability or activity in house sparrows during the first week of captivity (unpublished personal data).…”

The use of a long-acting tranquilizer (zuclopenthixol acetate) and live video monitoring for successful long-distance transport of caribou (Rangifer tarandus)

“…They found that wapiti administered ZA showed less subjective indicators of stress (increased activity or excitement when handled) in addition to decreases in objective stress measurements such as blood lactate concentration, white blood cell count, serum cortisol and rectal temperature (Read et al, 2000). Laubscher et al (2016) similarly found improvements in subjective indicators of stress in captive blue wildebeest treated with ZA compared to a placebo group, such as increased time eating, less head shaking (a stress response), and more resting behaviours. Based on the above research and previous experience with ZA in Rangifer (Slater, unpublished data) we elected not to have a control group to reduce the potential for transport related complications in non-tranquilized caribou.…”

“…Species differences are known to occur with ZA dosage; it is contraindicated in cheetah due to adverse effects, but effective in leopards and domestic cats without any side effects reported (Huber et al, 2001). Additionally, two of thirteen white-tailed deer in the Read & McCorkell (2002) study developed EPE at a dosage of 1 mg/kg ZA, while there were no reports of EPE when the same dosage (or higher) was used in wapiti (Read et al, 2000), red deer (Diverio et al, 1996) or blue wildebeest (Laubscher et al, 2016). Our report points to a potential increased sensitivity to ZA in caribou and additional research is required to determine the optimal dosage of ZA in caribou.…”

“…Zuclopenthixol acetate (ZA) is a thioxanthene tranquilizer commonly used in ungulate translocation throughout South Africa (Huber et al, 2001;Laubscher et al, 2016;Pohlin, 2020). It exerts its tranquilization effects primarily by antagonizing excitatory dopaminergic receptors within the central nervous system (Lundbeck Canada Inc., 2016).…”

“…It exerts its tranquilization effects primarily by antagonizing excitatory dopaminergic receptors within the central nervous system (Lundbeck Canada Inc., 2016). Dissolution of the active ingredient in vegetable oil causes the formation of a depot in the muscle following intramuscular (IM) injection, which results in the slow release of the active ingredient and a prolonged clinical effect that has been reported to last for 72-96 h (Read et al, 2000;Huber et al, 2001;Read & McCorkell, 2002;Fick et al, 2006;Laubscher et al, 2016).…”