Muscle tremors observed in white rhinoceroses immobilised with either etorphine–azaperone or etorphine–midazolam : an initial study
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Date
Authors
Nasr, Mary
Meyer, Leith Carl Rodney
Buss, Peter Erik
Fabregas, María C.
Gleed, Robin D.
Boesch, Jordyn M.
Pohlin, Friederike
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
AOSIS OpenJournals
Abstract
Etorphine–azaperone is the most commonly used drug combination for chemical
immobilisation of free-ranging white rhinoceroses, but causes several profound physiological
disturbances, including muscle tremors. The addition of benzodiazepine sedatives, such as
midazolam, has been proposed to reduce the muscular rigidity and tremors in immobilised
rhinoceroses. Twenty-three free-ranging, sub-adult white rhinoceros bulls were darted and
captured using a combination of etorphine plus either azaperone or midazolam. Skeletal
muscle tremors were visually evaluated and scored by an experienced veterinarian, and
tremor scores and distance run were compared between groups using the Wilcoxon rank
sum test. No statistical differences were observed in tremor scores (p = 0.435) or distance run
(p = 0.711) between the two groups, and no correlation between these variables was detected
(r = –0.628; p = 0.807). Etorphine–midazolam was as effective as etorphine–azaperone at
immobilising rhinoceroses, with animals running similar distances. Although the addition of
midazolam to the etorphine did not reduce tremor scores compared to azaperone, it might
have other beneficial immobilising effects in rhinoceroses, and further investigation is
necessary to elucidate possible methods of reducing muscle tremoring during chemical
immobilisation of rhinoceroses.
Description
Keywords
Muscle tremors, Etorphine, Midazolam, Azaperone, Immobilisation, Muscle relaxation, Butorphanol, White rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum)
Sustainable Development Goals
Citation
Nasr, M., Meyer, L.C.R., Buss, P., Fàbregas, M.C., Gleed, R.D., Boesch, J.M. et al., 2021, ‘Muscle tremors observed
in white rhinoceroses immobilised with either etorphine–azaperone or etorphine–midazolam: An initial study’, Journal of the South
African Veterinary Association 92(0), a2142. https://DOI.org/10.4102/jsava.v92i0.2142.