Muscle tremors observed in white rhinoceroses immobilised with either etorphine–azaperone or etorphine–midazolam : an initial study

dc.contributor.authorNasr, Mary
dc.contributor.authorMeyer, Leith Carl Rodney
dc.contributor.authorBuss, Peter Erik
dc.contributor.authorFabregas, María C.
dc.contributor.authorGleed, Robin D.
dc.contributor.authorBoesch, Jordyn M.
dc.contributor.authorPohlin, Friederike
dc.date.accessioned2022-05-05T12:11:00Z
dc.date.available2022-05-05T12:11:00Z
dc.date.issued2021-06
dc.description.abstractEtorphine–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.en_US
dc.description.departmentCentre for Veterinary Wildlife Studiesen_US
dc.description.departmentParaclinical Sciencesen_US
dc.description.departmentProduction Animal Studiesen_US
dc.description.librarianam2022en_US
dc.description.sponsorshipThe Wildlife Group of the South African Veterinary Association, the National Research Foundation (NRF), the International Rhino Foundation and the Faculty of Veterinary Science of the University of Pretoria.en_US
dc.description.urihttp://www.jsava.co.zaen_US
dc.identifier.citationNasr, 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.en_US
dc.identifier.issn1019-9128 (print)
dc.identifier.issn2224-9435 (online)
dc.identifier.other10.4102/jsava.v92i0.2142
dc.identifier.urihttps://repository.up.ac.za/handle/2263/85101
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherAOSIS OpenJournalsen_US
dc.rights© 2021. The Authors. Licensee: AOSIS. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License.en_US
dc.subjectMuscle tremorsen_US
dc.subjectEtorphineen_US
dc.subjectMidazolamen_US
dc.subjectAzaperoneen_US
dc.subjectImmobilisationen_US
dc.subjectMuscle relaxationen_US
dc.subjectButorphanolen_US
dc.subjectWhite rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum)en_US
dc.titleMuscle tremors observed in white rhinoceroses immobilised with either etorphine–azaperone or etorphine–midazolam : an initial studyen_US
dc.typeArticleen_US

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