USE OF MIDAZOLAM/PETHIDINE AND TILETAMINE/ZOLAZEPAM COMBINATIONS FOR THE CHEMICAL RESTRAINT OF LEOPARD SEALS (HYDRURGA LEPTONYX) (original) (raw)

Abstract

We immobilized 200-550-kg leopard seals (Hydrurga leptonyx) on sea ice in Prydz Bay, Antarctica (68"25'S, 77'10'E) between November 1997 and February 2000. Midazolam (0.18-0.27 mgikgfi pethidine (1 .O-1.5 mgikg) was administered by dart to 16 leopard seals. Unpredictable immobilization, poor airway maintenance, and our inability to fully assess the suitability of flumazenil (0.003-0.01 mg/kg), naloxone (0.01-0.013 mgikg), and naltrexone (0.05-0.12 mgikg) as reversal agents limited suitability of midazolam/ pethidine. Tiletamineizolazepam 1:l (0.5-1.5 rng/kg) was, therefore, adrninistered to 19 leopard seals. It produced faster induction (19 ? 3 min), more effective and reliable response to dose (rank correlation: r,r = 0.88, n = 18), and better pulmonary ventilation and faster return of cognitive function upon recovery, in comparison to midazolam/pethidine. Best results were achieved with tiletamineizolazepam (1.2-1.4 mgikg) which safely immobilized seven of nine seals for 20-30 min. Entry to the water upon darting was minimized, but not eliminated, by the use of lightweight air-pressurized darts and a thorough knowledge of leopard seal behavior.

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