Tricaine methanesulfonate (MS-222) is a bath anesthetic agent commonly used in amphibians, but few studies have demonstrated its efficacy in a wide variety of anuran species. In this study, White's tree frogs (Litoria caerulea; n = 9) were used in a blinded, randomized, complete cross-over study to assess the anesthetic effects of two MS-222 concentrations (0.5 g/L and 2 g/L). Frogs were placed in MS-222 to induce chemical restraint. Heart and gular rates and palpebral, corneal, withdrawal, and righting reflexes were measured every 5 min. Frogs were removed from the anesthetic solution when reflexes were lost or after 25 min. Only mild sedation was induced with 0.5 g/L MS-222 after 25 min in all frogs, and surgical anesthesia was induced in all frogs with 2 g/L MS-222 within 5–20 min. Time from rinsing with distilled water to regaining reflexes in the 2 g/L group ranged from 10 to 43 min. There was a time-dependent decrease in heart rate with no significant difference between treatments. There was a significant decrease in gular rate for the 2 g/L dose compared to the 0.5 g/L dose. These results suggest that 0.5 g/L MS-222 can be used for mild sedation to facilitate diagnostic techniques, and 2 g/L MS-222 can be used to induce surgical anesthesia in White's tree frogs.
How to translate text using browser tools
3 March 2020
Anesthetic Efficacy of MS-222 in White's Tree Frogs (Litoria caerulea)
Ashley R. Krisp,
Jennifer C. Hausmann,
Kurt K. Sladky,
Christoph Mans
ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE
It is not available for individual sale.
This article is only available to subscribers.
It is not available for individual sale.
It is not available for individual sale.
amphibian
Anesthesia
Litoria caerulea
MS-222
tricaine methanesulfonate
White's tree frogs