Comparison of Three Different Balanced Sedative-Anaesthetic Protocols in Captive Baboons (Papio hamadryas)

Baboons' management requires chemical restraint. Three intramuscular sedative protocols in captive hamadryas baboons (Papio hamadryas) undergoing health-check and male vasectomy were compared. Animals were assigned to TZD_G (n = 17; tiletamine/zolazepam 3 mg/kg + dexmedetomidine 20 μg/kg), KDM_G (n = 23; ketamine 6 mg/kg + dexmedetomidine 30 μg/kg + methadone 0.2 mg/kg), or MDM_G (n = 9; midazolam 2 mg/kg + dexmedetomidine 60 μg/kg + methadone 0.2 mg/kg). Propofol was titrated intravenously for anaesthetic induction and maintenance. Sedation time and quality and cardiopulmonary parameters were recorded. Atipamezole (TZD_G 0.2 mg/kg, KDM_G 0.3 mg/kg, MDM_G 0.6 mg/kg) and flumazenil (MDM_G 0.02 mg/kg) were administered intramuscularly post-procedure. Recovery time and quality were recorded. Data were reported as median (interquartile range) or regression coefficient (B). Sedation was deepest in TZD_G (20, 20-20; KDM_G 20, 19-20; MDM_G 19, 15-20; p = 0.017). MDM_G had a significantly higher heart rate (B = 10.27, p = 0.001), respiratory rate (B = 9.09, p < 0.001), and lower end-tidal carbon dioxide (B = -3.00, p = 0.03) than TZD_G, while KDM_G had a lower respiratory rate than TZD_G (B = -3.67, p = 0.02) and a higher temperature (B = 1.66 p = 0.001). TZD_G showed the longest recovery (minutes: 19, 11.5-30; KDM_G: 6, 4-12; MDM_G: 4, 2.5-5; p < 0.001), while MDM_G the best recovery (0, 0-0; TZD_G: 9, 6-12; KDM_G: 0, 0-6; p < 0.001). TZD produced deepest sedation but bad recovery; KDM offered optimal sedation and recovery, and cardiopulmonary stability; MDM provided lighter sedation and excellent recovery.