The effect of MS-222 on the cardiac and respiratory function and behaviour of common carp, Cyprinus carpio L., during general anaesthesia

Abstract

Dziaman R., K∏yszejko B., Hajek G. 2005. The effect of MS-222 on the cardiac and respiratory function and behaviour of common carp, Cyprinus carpio L., during general anaesthesia. Acta Ichthyol. Piscat. 35 (2): 125-131.Background. Assessments of the efficacy of anaesthetics are usually based on observations of fish behaviour or changes in blood parameters. In this study we attempted to assess the process of anaesthesia, caused by MS-222, based on the measurement of heartbeat and respiratory frequency. Material and methods. The effect of four concentrations of MS-222 (75, 100, 125, and 150 mg · L -1 ) on heartbeat and respiratory frequency of common carp, Cyprinus carpio L., were studied using ECG. Concurrently (during general anaesthesia) fish behaviour was also observed.Results. The behavioural reactions were similar for all four treatments. The first symptom was agitation followed by sedation, loss of equilibrium, and deep anaesthesia. Small differences were observed during initial contact of fish with the anaesthetic. The ECG analysis, however, revealed significant differences in heartbeat and respiratory frequencies related to the concentration used. Irrespective of the MS-222 concentration used, the recovery time was similar in all treatments and did not exceed 5 minutes. Conclusion. The ECG method can be an important and objective tool supplementing the data acquired during visual observations of responses to anaesthesia. Its major advantage is the comparativeness of data.

Physiologic and biochemical measurements and response to noxious stimulation at various concentrations of MS-222 in Koi (Cyprinus carpio)

“…The presence of outliers could be partly due to the negative correlation between OpR and time under anaesthesia (fish were exposed to different concentrations in a randomized order); however, this correlation was not as strong as the correlation to anaesthetic concentration. Similar decrease in OpR has been previously described in carp in correlation with anaesthetic concentration (Dziaman 2005).…”

“…The difference in results may be explained by the difference in water delivery systems used in both studies, since we have used a water pump to create a ‘flow–through’ system which does not rely on active opercular movements to provide oxygenated water to the gills. Blood gas parameters were not recorded in the study by Dziaman (2005) and so cannot be compared to our results, although changes in respiratory rate, that were recorded in the study, could have potentially led to moderate hypoxia which has been shown to lead to physiological tachycardia in carp (Glass et al. 1991).…”

“…Electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring equipment would have provided more information but we did not use an ECG during this study and the nature of the arrhythmia is unclear. A previous study (Dziaman 2005) has evaluated the physiological and behavioural responses in carp (Cyprinus carpio) to anaesthesia using MS-222 in concentrations within a similar range to those used in the present study and documented a brief bradycardia followed by tachycardia in the anaesthetized fish. Our HR recordings differ from the observations made by these authors since no tachycardia was observed.…”

Evaluation of tricaine methanesulfonate (MS-222) as a surgical anesthetic for Atlantic Sturgeon Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus

“…Cortisol values measured 1 h following anesthesia study, may not reflect the maximum magnitude of stress response in this study, as time‐series sampling was not done (McDonald and Milligan, 1992; Hrubec and Smith, 2000). Acute reddening of the skin was associated with elevated cortisol levels in this study and may indicate changes in blood circulation resulting from hyperactivity or from tissue hypoxia following marked decreases in ventilation rate (Sladky et al., 2001; Dziaman et al., 2005).…”

Use of tricaine methanesulfonate (MS-222) to induce anaesthesia in Puntius denisonii (Day, 1865) (Teleostei: Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae), a threatened barb of the Western Ghats, India

“…Overdose of an anaesthetic or retaining the fish in an anaesthetic bath for too long leads to the fading of ventilation, hypoxia, and finally, respiratory and cardiac collapse (Tytler & Hawkins 1981). The fading of ventilation is an important warning sign suggesting that the exposure should be terminated (Hajek & Klyszejko 2004;Dziaman et al 2005).…”