Comparison of anesthetic effects of xylazine combined with alfaxalone or ketamine and maintained with isoflurane in captive Formosan Reeve’s Muntjac (Muntiacus reevesi micrurus)
Abstract Formosan Reeve’s muntjac is a Cervidae species endemic to Southeast China and Taiwan. However, research on different anesthetic protocols, their effects, and their safety in Formosan Reeve’s muntjac is limited. This study evaluated the effects of ketamine-xylazine (KX) and alfaxalone-xylazi...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2025-02-01
|
| Series: | Irish Veterinary Journal |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13620-025-00291-6 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1823862142983471104 |
|---|---|
| author | Li-Jen Chang Zixuan Wang Chen-Yeh Lien Amanda H.C. Wen |
| author_facet | Li-Jen Chang Zixuan Wang Chen-Yeh Lien Amanda H.C. Wen |
| author_sort | Li-Jen Chang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Formosan Reeve’s muntjac is a Cervidae species endemic to Southeast China and Taiwan. However, research on different anesthetic protocols, their effects, and their safety in Formosan Reeve’s muntjac is limited. This study evaluated the effects of ketamine-xylazine (KX) and alfaxalone-xylazine (AX) administered via blow darts to nine muntjacs. Induction and recovery times as well as the quality were assessed by a blinded observer. Peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2), heart rate, respiratory rate, and rectal temperature were recorded for at least 30 min. Tolazoline (4 mg/kg) was used post-procedure to reverse xylazine’s effects. The mean doses were 4.68 ± 2.18 mg/kg for ketamine and 3.22 ± 1.33 mg/kg for xylazine in the KX group. In the AX group, the mean doses were 4.38 ± 0.31 mg/kg for alfaxalone and 1.19 ± 0.26 mg/kg for xylazine. The median induction times were 339.5 s (range 180.0-375.0) for KX and 125.0 s (range 71.0–334.0) for AX, with both groups scoring 3.0 for induction quality. The recovery times were 507.5 s (range 266.0–1081.0) for KX and 243.0 s (range 92.0–480.0) for AX, with recovery scores of 2.3 and 3.0, respectively, showing no significant difference. Hypoxemia (SpO2 < 90%) was more severe in the KX group when compared to the AX group (SpO2 > 92%), and rectal temperatures were higher in the former during the first 15 min. Heart and respiratory rates showed no significant differences between groups. Our findings demonstrate that both anesthetic combinations achieve reliable induction and satisfactory recovery in Formosan Reeve’s muntjac, with the ketamine-xylazine combination causing a more profound hypoxemia post-induction compared to the alfaxalone-xylazine combination. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-3a17c1534a874d75ba71522d6c7b003c |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2046-0481 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Irish Veterinary Journal |
| spelling | doaj-art-3a17c1534a874d75ba71522d6c7b003c2025-02-09T12:39:14ZengBMCIrish Veterinary Journal2046-04812025-02-0178111110.1186/s13620-025-00291-6Comparison of anesthetic effects of xylazine combined with alfaxalone or ketamine and maintained with isoflurane in captive Formosan Reeve’s Muntjac (Muntiacus reevesi micrurus)Li-Jen Chang0Zixuan Wang1Chen-Yeh Lien2Amanda H.C. Wen3Department of Small Animal Clinical Science, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary MedicineCollege of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural UniversityAnimal Medical CenterCentral Florida ZooAbstract Formosan Reeve’s muntjac is a Cervidae species endemic to Southeast China and Taiwan. However, research on different anesthetic protocols, their effects, and their safety in Formosan Reeve’s muntjac is limited. This study evaluated the effects of ketamine-xylazine (KX) and alfaxalone-xylazine (AX) administered via blow darts to nine muntjacs. Induction and recovery times as well as the quality were assessed by a blinded observer. Peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2), heart rate, respiratory rate, and rectal temperature were recorded for at least 30 min. Tolazoline (4 mg/kg) was used post-procedure to reverse xylazine’s effects. The mean doses were 4.68 ± 2.18 mg/kg for ketamine and 3.22 ± 1.33 mg/kg for xylazine in the KX group. In the AX group, the mean doses were 4.38 ± 0.31 mg/kg for alfaxalone and 1.19 ± 0.26 mg/kg for xylazine. The median induction times were 339.5 s (range 180.0-375.0) for KX and 125.0 s (range 71.0–334.0) for AX, with both groups scoring 3.0 for induction quality. The recovery times were 507.5 s (range 266.0–1081.0) for KX and 243.0 s (range 92.0–480.0) for AX, with recovery scores of 2.3 and 3.0, respectively, showing no significant difference. Hypoxemia (SpO2 < 90%) was more severe in the KX group when compared to the AX group (SpO2 > 92%), and rectal temperatures were higher in the former during the first 15 min. Heart and respiratory rates showed no significant differences between groups. Our findings demonstrate that both anesthetic combinations achieve reliable induction and satisfactory recovery in Formosan Reeve’s muntjac, with the ketamine-xylazine combination causing a more profound hypoxemia post-induction compared to the alfaxalone-xylazine combination.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13620-025-00291-6AlfaxaloneKetamineXylazineFormosan Reeve's muntjacAnesthesia |
| spellingShingle | Li-Jen Chang Zixuan Wang Chen-Yeh Lien Amanda H.C. Wen Comparison of anesthetic effects of xylazine combined with alfaxalone or ketamine and maintained with isoflurane in captive Formosan Reeve’s Muntjac (Muntiacus reevesi micrurus) Irish Veterinary Journal Alfaxalone Ketamine Xylazine Formosan Reeve's muntjac Anesthesia |
| title | Comparison of anesthetic effects of xylazine combined with alfaxalone or ketamine and maintained with isoflurane in captive Formosan Reeve’s Muntjac (Muntiacus reevesi micrurus) |
| title_full | Comparison of anesthetic effects of xylazine combined with alfaxalone or ketamine and maintained with isoflurane in captive Formosan Reeve’s Muntjac (Muntiacus reevesi micrurus) |
| title_fullStr | Comparison of anesthetic effects of xylazine combined with alfaxalone or ketamine and maintained with isoflurane in captive Formosan Reeve’s Muntjac (Muntiacus reevesi micrurus) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Comparison of anesthetic effects of xylazine combined with alfaxalone or ketamine and maintained with isoflurane in captive Formosan Reeve’s Muntjac (Muntiacus reevesi micrurus) |
| title_short | Comparison of anesthetic effects of xylazine combined with alfaxalone or ketamine and maintained with isoflurane in captive Formosan Reeve’s Muntjac (Muntiacus reevesi micrurus) |
| title_sort | comparison of anesthetic effects of xylazine combined with alfaxalone or ketamine and maintained with isoflurane in captive formosan reeve s muntjac muntiacus reevesi micrurus |
| topic | Alfaxalone Ketamine Xylazine Formosan Reeve's muntjac Anesthesia |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13620-025-00291-6 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT lijenchang comparisonofanestheticeffectsofxylazinecombinedwithalfaxaloneorketamineandmaintainedwithisofluraneincaptiveformosanreevesmuntjacmuntiacusreevesimicrurus AT zixuanwang comparisonofanestheticeffectsofxylazinecombinedwithalfaxaloneorketamineandmaintainedwithisofluraneincaptiveformosanreevesmuntjacmuntiacusreevesimicrurus AT chenyehlien comparisonofanestheticeffectsofxylazinecombinedwithalfaxaloneorketamineandmaintainedwithisofluraneincaptiveformosanreevesmuntjacmuntiacusreevesimicrurus AT amandahcwen comparisonofanestheticeffectsofxylazinecombinedwithalfaxaloneorketamineandmaintainedwithisofluraneincaptiveformosanreevesmuntjacmuntiacusreevesimicrurus |