Veterinary Archives, Vol. 93 No. 1, 2023.
Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.24099/vet.arhiv.1259
Anaesthetic induction with alfaxalone in Jungle Carpet Python (Morelia Spilota Cheynei)
Manuel Morici
; Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Messina, Messina, Italy; Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy
Filippo Spadola
; Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
Matteo Oliveri
; Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy,
Emanuele Lubian
; Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Messina, Messina, Italy; Ospedale Veterinario Universitario Piccoli Animali, Università degli Studi di Milano, Lodi, Italy
Zdenek Knotek
; University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Avian and Exotic Animal Clinic, Brno, Czech Republic
Abstract
The aim of this investigation was to assess the clinical use of alfaxalone as a short-acting anaesthetic agent for induction to inhalation anaesthesia in jungle carpet pythons (Morelia spilota cheynei). Ten healthy, captive, sub-adult jungle carpet pythons (1.1±0.32 kg bw) were anaesthetised using a dose of 10mg/kg of alfaxalone, administered intravenously to the ventral tail vein. Heart rate (HR) and respiratory rate (RR) were recorded before administration (T0), and every 5 minutes until the snakes fully recovered from the anaesthesia. The induction time, time of tail-pinch reflex loss, tracheal tube insertion time, interval of deep anaesthesia, and the time of full recovery were recorded. The induction time occurred within 3.1±0.8 minutes. The tail-pinch reflex loss was lost within 5.6±0.7 minutes. The mean tracheal tube insertion time, the interval of deep anaesthesia, and the time of full recovery were 6.9±0.9 minutes, 18.8±4.7 minutes, and 36.7±11.4 minutes, respectively. A prolonged time of full recovery was recorded in two snakes (61.3 and 62.6 minutes, respectively). Their mean heart rate was statistically higher (P<0.05) at T5, T15 and T20 when compared with the basal HR at T0. The respiratory rate of the snakes dropped at T5 and was statistically lower (P<0.05) from T5 until T20 when compared with RR at all other time points. In two snakes apnoea was recorded at T5. Intravenous administration of alfaxalone proved to be a valuable method of induction, suitable for a subsequent inhalation anaesthesia in jungle carpet pythons.
Keywords
alfaxalone; anaesthesia; Jungle Carpet Python
Hrčak ID:
303111
URI
Publication date:
24.5.2023.
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