Comparison between the anaesthetic effects of xylazine–ketamine and diazepam–ketamine: physiological and blood parameters in young hamadryas baboons (Papio hamadryas)

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the anaesthetic effects on young hamadryas baboons (Papio hamadryas) of xylazine-ketamine (XK) compared to diazepam-ketamine (DK). Six healthy young male hamadryas baboons were first premedicated with xylazine HCl (0.5 mg/kg, IM) and anaesthetised 20 min later with ketamine (10 mg/kg, IM). After a 10-day washout period, the hamadryas baboons were premedicated with diazepam (1 mg/kg, IM) and anaesthetised 20 min later with ketamine (10 mg/kg, IM). The onset, duration, and the depth of anaesthesia were determined by recording palpebral, corneal, and jaw reflexes. The results showed a significant decrease in heart rate and rectal temperature after XK injection, while a significant reduction in respiratory rate was seen when using the DK protocol. A highly significant increase in the levels of glucose was observed with the XK regimen. Blood pressure decreased when using both anaesthetic regimens, but this reduction did not reach significant levels. The quality of recovery was better when using XK compared to DK. In conclusion, major complications including bradycardia, hypothermia, and hyperglycaemia should be considered with a combination of XK. However, no complications other than bradypnea and hypercapnia should be expected when immobilising young hamadryas baboons with DK. No significant difference was observed in CBC, electrolytes, or lactate level between the anaesthesia protocols.

Point of Care Blood Gas and Electrolyte Analysis in Anesthetized Olive Baboons (Papio anubis) in a Field Setting

“…However, measures for HCO 3 and BEecf in this study were higher while pCO 2 was lower than published data (Hainsey et al 1993;Lee et al 2012;Nakayama et al 2017;Schuurman et al 2004). The olive baboons' venous blood gas pCO 2 values were comparable to values obtained from hamadryas baboons (Papio hamadryas) (Alsobayil et al 2018) (Table IV). The values reported from captive baboons, chimpanzees, rhesus macaques, and long-tailed macaques were obtained from arterial samples while values reported from the hamadryas baboons were obtained from venous samples baboons (Alsobayil et al 2018;Hainsey et al 1993;Lee et al 2012;Nakayama et al 2017;Schuurman et al 2004).…”

“…The olive baboons' venous blood gas pCO 2 values were comparable to values obtained from hamadryas baboons (Papio hamadryas) (Alsobayil et al 2018) (Table IV). The values reported from captive baboons, chimpanzees, rhesus macaques, and long-tailed macaques were obtained from arterial samples while values reported from the hamadryas baboons were obtained from venous samples baboons (Alsobayil et al 2018;Hainsey et al 1993;Lee et al 2012;Nakayama et al 2017;Schuurman et al 2004). Owing to differences in the physiology of venous and arterial CO 2 and O 2 exchange in the lungs, the partial pressures and saturation of O 2 and CO 2 are not comparable between venous and arterial samples.…”

“…The heart rate of the anesthetized olive baboons was within normal limits (Tatoyan and Cherkovich 1972). The decrease in the baboons' temperature is likely to be a result of dousing the baboons with water and the ketamine-medetomidine drug combination (Alsobayil et al 2018). The arterial oxygen saturation of hemoglobin fluctuated at values <85%, indicating hypoxemia and thus we recommend oxygen supplementation for future field baboon immobilizations using the ketamine-medetomidine drug combination.…”

Osteology of the Hamadryas Baboon (Papio hamadryas)

“…For decades, the baboon was a preferred non-human primate research subject. As an animal model, it served in research on, amongst others, reproduction, chronic pulmonary diseases, osteoporosis, cardiovascular diseases including hypertension and atherosclerosis, and the development of vaccines against hepatitis C and HIV [10][11][12]. Its popularity started to decline at the beginning of the new millennium, since the large body size requires considerable volumes of food and adequately built cages with outdoor runs, which is expensive [10].…”