Contención Farmacológica de Perezosos de dos dedosCholoepus hoffmonni(Peters, 1858) Mediante el uso de Ketamina, Dexmedetomidina y Midazolam, y Reversión Con Atipamezol

Abstract

Nine captive, clinically healthy two-toed sloths (Choloepus hoffmanni) of both genders and different ages were anesthetized at the Zoological Park of Huachipa in Peru. The anesthetic cocktail administered was composed of ketamine (2.67±0.25 mg/kg), dexmedetomidine (12±4 µg/kg) and midazolam (0.1 mg/kg), mixed in the same syringe and applied via intramuscular injection (IM). Ten minutes after initial injection, cardiac frequency, oxygen saturation, non-invasive arterial blood pressure, respiratory frequency, and rectal temperature were monitored every 10 minutes. The following parameters related to anesthetic quality were also assessed: induction time, effective period of the anesthesia, recovery time, muscle relaxation score, presence or absence of salivation, and protection reflexes. After 50 minutes of anesthesia, dexmedetomidine was reverted with atipamezole (0.22±0.05 mg/kg), administered IM. A rapid time of induction of 6±3 min was observed along with an effective period of anesthesia of 50 minutes. Recovery was rapid and without excitement. Recovery time started 8±4 min after administration of atipamezole, and total recovery was achieved at 10±4 min. A good muscle relaxation, maintenance of defense reflexes, and no salivation were observed. No significant alterations of vital functions and no significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) in relation to time of monitoring, gender or age were observed. Based on the results, this protocol could be considered as an excellent choice for pharmacological contention of two-toed sloths.