Dexmedetomidine Effectively Sedates Asian Elephants (Elephas maximus)

This study investigated the sedative effects of dexmedetomidine in Asian elephants. We hypothesized that 2 µg/kg dexmedetomidine would provide sufficient standing sedation. A crossover design study was performed in three Asian elephants. Each elephant was assigned to 1 of 3 treatment groups—1 (D1),...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Animals (Basel) 2022-10, Vol.12 (20), p.2787
Main Authors: Buranapim, Nithidol, Kulnanan, Pawinee, Chingpathomkul, Kullapassorn, Angkawanish, Taweepoke, Chansitthiwet, Saran, Langkaphin, Warangkhana, Sombutputorn, Petthisak, Monchaivanakit, Natcha, Kasemjai, Kankawee, Namwongprom, Kittikul, Boonprasert, Khajohnpat, Bansiddhi, Pakkanut, Thitaram, Niyada, Sharp, Patrick, Pacharinsak, Cholawat, Thitaram, Chatchote
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anesthesia
Animals
Asian elephants
Complications
dexmedetomidine
Drug dosages
Elephantidae
Elephants
Injection
Respiration
Respiratory rate
sedation
Veterinary medicine
Citations: Items that this one cites
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:This study investigated the sedative effects of dexmedetomidine in Asian elephants. We hypothesized that 2 µg/kg dexmedetomidine would provide sufficient standing sedation. A crossover design study was performed in three Asian elephants. Each elephant was assigned to 1 of 3 treatment groups—1 (D1), 1.5 (D1.5) or 2 (D2) µg/kg dexmedetomidine (intramuscular injection, IM) with a two-week ‘washout period’ between doses. Elephants were monitored for 120 min. At 120 min (Ta), atipamezole was administered IM. Sedation and responsiveness scores were evaluated. Physiological parameters (pulse rate, respiratory rate, and %SpO2) and clinical observations were monitored during the study and for 3 days post drug administration. D2 provided the longest sedation (approximately 70 min), compared to D1 and D1.5. After Ta, each elephant’s sedative stage lessened within 10–15 min without complications. No significant abnormal clinical observations were noted throughout and during the 3-days post study period. These data suggest that a single 2 µg/kg IM dexmedetomidine injection provides sufficient standing sedation for approximately 70 min in Asian elephants.
ISSN:2076-2615
2076-2615
DOI:10.3390/ani12202787