Comparison of three anesthetic protocols in 146 olive baboons (Papio anubis) in a mass capture event for physical...

To compare three anesthetic protocols used in olive baboons (Papio anubis).

Retrospective, observational, clinical study.

A group of 146 adult olive baboons housed at a single safari facility.

Anesthesia records from a mass capture were reviewed. Animals were immobilized using one of three protocols administered intramuscularly: dexmedetomidine 0.02 mg kg^-1 and tiletamine-zolazepam 3 mg kg^-1 (DTZ), xylazine 0.5 mg kg^-1 and tiletamine-zolazepam 3 mg kg^-1 (XTZ), or xylazine 0.5 mg kg^-1 and midazolam 0.1 mg kg^-1 and ketamine 3 mg kg^-1 (XMK). Data collected included demographic information, anesthetic induction and procedure times, need for supplemental drugs during induction or maintenance, and adverse events. Descriptive statistics and independent t-tests were used to compare between groups, with significance set at p < 0.05.

All animals were successfully immobilized and recovered from immobilization with no adverse events observed. DTZ produced the shortest induction times (297 ± 108 seconds), compared with XTZ (356 ± 123 seconds) and XMK (449 ± 83 seconds). Supplemental anesthetics were administered during induction in 9.4% (6/64, DTZ), 11.0% (8/73, XTZ), and 22.2% (2/9, XMK) of cases. One animal in the XTZ group developed bradycardia (heart rate < 60 beats minute^-1) and hypotension (oscillometric mean arterial blood pressure < 60 mmHg) during anesthesia that was successfully treated with anticholinergic agents. Animals breathed spontaneously throughout immobilizations.

DTZ achieved rapid induction with a lower need for supplemental anesthesia than both XTZ and XMK. A randomized, blinded trial is required to properly compare drug protocols.