Vet Med - Czech, 2018, 63(2):87-93 | DOI: 10.17221/74/2017-VETMED

Efficacy of two methods of intranasal administration of anaesthetic drugs in red-eared terrapins (Trachemys scripta elegans)Original Paper

E. Cermakova*,1, V. Ceplecha2, Z. Knotek1
1 Avian and Exotic Animal Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
2 Small Animal Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic

The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of ketamine, dexmedetomidine, atipamezole and alfaxalone delivered by two methods of intranasal administration in terrapins. The two methods were used in 21 healthy adult female red-eared terrapins: (A) with fully extended neck and restrained head, (B) with head hidden inside the shell. Ketamine (10 mg/kg) and dexmedetomidine (0.2 mg/kg) were delivered using a micropipette in the left and the right naris, respectively. Atipamezole (2 mg/kg) was administered 60 minutes later. Heart rate, head withdrawal reflex, palpebral reflex, toe-pinch reflex on the pelvic limb and glottal control enabling the insertion of the tracheal tube were recorded at 10-minute intervals. After a washout period of six months, alfaxalone (5 mg/kg) was tested. The first measurement in the alfaxalone trial started 5 minutes after the drug was administered and continued at 10-minute intervals. Heart rate decreased significantly in response to both methods of ketamine and dexmedetomidine administration. There were no significant differences between methods in time to loss of reflexes and full recovery of reflexes. Intranasal administration of atipamezole enabled rapid return to full activity. Alfaxalone administration decreased heart rate non-significantly and did not result in loss of evaluated reflexes. Both methods of drug administration of ketamine, dexmedetomidine and atipamezole resulted in a safe form of sedation and recovery. Intranasal administration of 5 mg/kg of alfaxalone was not effective.

Keywords: chelonians; anaesthesia; monitoring; heart rate; reflexes

Published: February 28, 2018  Show citation

ACS AIP APA ASA Harvard Chicago Chicago Notes IEEE ISO690 MLA NLM Turabian Vancouver
Cermakova E, Ceplecha V, Knotek Z. Efficacy of two methods of intranasal administration of anaesthetic drugs in red-eared terrapins (Trachemys scripta elegans). Vet Med - Czech. 2018;63(2):87-93. doi: 10.17221/74/2017-VETMED.
Share...
Download citation
  • BibTeX (.bib)
  • Bookends (.ris)
  • EasyBib (.ris)
  • EndNote (.enw)
  • EndNote 8 (.xml)
  • ISI WoS (.isi)
  • Medlars (.medlars)
  • Mendeley (.ris)
  • MODS (.xml)
  • Papers (.ris)
  • RefWorks (.txt)
  • RefManager (.ris)
  • RIS (.ris)
  • MS Word (.xml)
  • Zotero (.ris)
    • Open full article

    References

    1. Al-Shebani WHS (2011): The sedative effect of intranasal administration of some sedative agents in budgerigar (Melopsittacus undulatus). Iraqi Journal of Veterinary Sciences 4, 171-177.
    2. Bennett RA (1991): A review of anaesthesia and chemical restraint in reptiles. Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 22, 282-303.
    3. Chu CC, Wang HC, Wu RS (2014): A rare case: surgical management of cystolithiasis in a domestic bowsprit tortoise (Chersina angulata). Proceedings of the 21st International Congress of ARAV, Orlando, Florida. 146-148.
    4. Emery L, Parsons G, Gerhardt L, Schumacher J, Souza M (2014): Sedative effects of intranasal midazolam and dexmedetomidine in 2 species of tortoises (Chelonoidis carbonaria and Geochelone platynota). Journal of Exotic Pet Medicine 23, 380-383. Go to original source...
    5. Fleming GJ (2014): Crocodilians (Crocodiles, Alligators, Caiman, and Gharial). In: West G, Heard D, Caulkett N (eds): Zoo Animal and Wildlife Immobilization and Anesthesia. 2nd edn. John Wiley and Sons, Iowa. 325-336. Go to original source...
    6. Girden ER (ed.) (1992): ANOVA: Repeated Measures. Sage Publications, Newbury Park. 84 pp. Go to original source...
    7. Greer LL, Jenne KJ, Diggs HE (2001): Medetomidine-ketamine anesthesia in red-eared slider turtles (Trachemys scripta elegans). Contemporary Topics in Laboratory Animal Science 40, 9-11.
    8. Jia JE, Chen JY, Hu X, Li WX (2013): A randomised study of intranasal dexmedetomidine and oral ketamine for premedication in children. Anaesthesia 68, 944-949. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    9. Kischinovsky M, Duse A, Wang T, Bertelsen MF (2013): Intramuscular administration of alfaxalone in red-eared sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans) - effects of dose and body temperature. Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia 40, 13-20. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    10. Knotek Z (2014): Alfaxalone as an induction agent for terrapins and tortoises. Veterinary Record, doi: 10.1136/vr.102486. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    11. Knotek Z, Cermakova E (2014): The practical use of intranasal anesthesia in tortoises and terrapins. Proceedings of the 21st International Congress of ARAV, Orlando, Florida. 67 pp.
    12. Malinovsky JM, Servin F, Cozian A, Lepage JY, Pinaud M (1996): Ketamine and norketamine plasma concentrations after intravenous, nasal and rectal administration in children. British Journal of Anaesthesia 77, 203-207. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    13. Mans C, Guzman D, Lahner LL, Paul-Murphy J, Sladky KK (2012): Intranasal midazolam induces conscious sedation and attenuates the acute stress response in manually restrained Hispaniolan amazon parrots (Amazona ventralis). Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery 26, 130-139. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    14. McArthur S, Wilkinson R, Meyer J (eds) (2004): Medicine and Surgery of Tortoises and Turtles. Blackwell, Oxford. 579 pp. Go to original source...
    15. Moghadam AZ, Sadegh AB, Sharifi S, Habibian S (2009): Comparison of intranasal administration of diazepam, midazolam and xylazine in pigeons: clinical evaluation. Iranian Journal of Veterinary Sciences Technology 1, 19-26.
    16. Mosley CA (2005): Anesthesia and analgesia in reptiles. Seminars in Avian and Exotic Pet Medicine 4, 243-262. Go to original source...
    17. Nevarez J (2009): Lizards. In: Mitchell MA, Tully TN (eds): Manual of Exotic Pet Practice. 1st edn. Elsevier Saunders, St Louis. 164-206. Go to original source...
    18. Olsson A, Phalen D (2012): Preliminary studies of chemical immobilization of captive juvenile estuarine (Crocodylus porosus) and Australian freshwater (C. johnstoni) crocodiles with medetomidine and reversal with atipamezole. Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia 39, 345-356. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    19. Rawat HS, Saraf RS, Sunil Kumar V (2014): Effects of intranasal midazolam as premedication in paediatric anaesthesia - clinical study. Pediatric Anesthesia and Critical Care Journal 2, 112-121.
    20. Robertson SA, Eberhart S (1994): Efficacy of the intranasal route for administration of anesthetic agents to adult rabbits. Laboratory Animal Science Journal 44, 159-165.
    21. Schnellbacher RW, Hernandez SM, Tuberville TD, Mayer J, Alhamhoom Y, Arnold RD (2012): The efficacy of intranasal administration of dexmedetomidine and ketamine to yellow-bellied sliders (Trachemys scripta scripta). Journal of Herpetological Medicine and Surgery 22, 91-98. Go to original source...
    22. Schumacher J, Mans CH (2014): Anesthesia. In: Mader DR, Divers SJ (eds): Current Therapy in Reptile Medicine and Surgery. 1st edn. Elsevier Saunders, St Louis. 134-153. Go to original source...
    23. Shepard MK, Divers S, Braun C, Hofmeister EH (2013): Pharmacodynamics of alfaxalone after single-dose intramuscular administration in red-eared-sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans): a comparison of two different doses at two different ambient temperatures. Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia 40, 590-598. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    24. Sladky KK, Mans C (2012): Clinical anesthesia in reptiles. Journal of Exotic Pet Medicine 21, 117-131. Go to original source...
    25. Vesal N, Eskandari MH (2006): Sedative effects of midazolam and xylazine with or without ketamine and detomidine alone following intranasal administration in ring-necked parakeets. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 228, 383-388. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    26. Vesal N, Zare P (2006): Clinical evaluation of intranasal benzodiazepines, α2-agonists and their antagonists in canaries. Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia 33, 143- 148. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    27. Walbergh EJ, Wills RJ, Eckhert J (1991): Plasma concentrations of midazolam in children following intranasal administration. Anesthesiology 74, 233-235. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    28. Weber F, Wulf H, Saeidi G (2003): Premedication with nasal s-ketamine and midazolam provides good conditions for induction of anesthesia in preschool children. Canadian Journal of Anesthesia 50, 470-475. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    29. Yuen VM, Irwin MG, Hui TW, Yuen MK, Lee LHY (2007): A double-blind, crossover assessment of the sedative and analgesic effects of intranasal dexmedetomidine. Anesthesia and Analgesia 105, 374-380. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...

    This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY NC 4.0), which permits non-comercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original publication is properly cited. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.


    Return to the content