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17 March 2020 EVALUATION OF A PARTIALLY REVERSIBLE IMMOBILIZATION PROTOCOL USING MEDETOMIDINE, BUTORPHANOL, ZOLAZEPAM–TILETAMINE, AND KETAMINE IN FREE-RANGING WARTHOGS (PHACOCHOERUS AFRICANUS) IN KRUGER NATIONAL PARK, SOUTH AFRICA
Jennie Hewlett, Peter Buss, Francisco Olea-Popelka, Katja Koeppel, Donald Neiffer, Guy Hausler, Leana Rossouw, Tebogo Manamela, Eliza Stout, Michele Miller
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Abstract

Twenty-one free-ranging warthogs (Phacochoerus africanus) in the Kruger National Park, South Africa, were immobilized with a combination of medetomidine (0.07 ± 0.01 mg/kg), butorphanol (0.26 ± 0.04 mg/kg), tiletamine–zolazepam (0.69 ± 0.15 mg/kg), and ketamine (1.43 ± 0.21 mg/kg) administered intramuscularly by dart. Induction, immobilization, and recovery characteristics were evaluated using a standardized scoring system. In the immobilized warthogs, physiological variables were measured every 5 min and arterial blood gases were analyzed at 15-min intervals. At 45 min after initial drug administration, atipamezole (0.34 ± 0.050 mg/kg) and naltrexone (0.53 ± 0.079 mg/kg) were administered intravenously. Overall, induction quality after darting was scored as excellent and the mean time to safe handling was 5.9 ± 2.0 min. Based on muscle relaxation, and loss of palpebral and pedal reflexes, most subjects (17 out of 21) reached a plane of surgical anesthesia by 10 and 15 min; 20 out of 21 warthogs were in this plane for the duration of the monitoring period. In the immobilized warthogs the overall mean heart rate was 65 ± 15.3 beats per minute, mean respiratory rate was 14.7 ± 5.6 breaths per minute, and the mean rectal temperature was 37.9 ± 1.4°C during the 40 min. Arterial blood gas results showed hypoxemia (mean PaO2 62.1 ± 16.2 mmHg), hypercapnia (mean PaCO2 47.1 ± 5.1 mmHg), and acidemia (mean pH = 7.36 ± 0.04). Values for PaO2 and pH improved over the immobilization period. After antagonist administration, overall recovery quality from immobilization was scored as good, with animals standing at a mean time of 7.3 ± 4.9 min. The drug combination proved to be effective in the immobilization of free-ranging warthogs with rapid induction, good anesthesia, and limited cardiorespiratory changes. This anesthetic protocol produces effective, safe, and partially reversible immobilization in warthogs.

Copyright 2020 by American Association of Zoo Veterinarians
Jennie Hewlett, Peter Buss, Francisco Olea-Popelka, Katja Koeppel, Donald Neiffer, Guy Hausler, Leana Rossouw, Tebogo Manamela, Eliza Stout, and Michele Miller "EVALUATION OF A PARTIALLY REVERSIBLE IMMOBILIZATION PROTOCOL USING MEDETOMIDINE, BUTORPHANOL, ZOLAZEPAM–TILETAMINE, AND KETAMINE IN FREE-RANGING WARTHOGS (PHACOCHOERUS AFRICANUS) IN KRUGER NATIONAL PARK, SOUTH AFRICA," Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 51(1), 80-87, (17 March 2020). https://doi.org/10.1638/2019-0110
Accepted: 7 October 2019; Published: 17 March 2020
KEYWORDS
butorphanol
ketamine
medetomidine
Phacochoerus africanus
tiletamine–zolazepam
warthog
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