Effects of mydriatic agents in cockatoos, African gray parrots, and Blue-fronted Amazon parrots.
OBJECTIVE
To compare, in psittacines, the mydriatic effects of several topically applied curariform, sympathomimetic, and parasympatholytic drugs with and without the addition of surface-acting penetrating agents.


METHODS
Prospective, randomized controlled trial.


METHODS
10 adult cockatoos (Cacatua sulphurea subspecies), 2 adult African gray parrots (Psittacus erithacus), and 3 adult Blue-fronted Amazon parrots (Amazona aestiva).


METHODS
Three curariform drugs (d-tubocurarine, pancuronium, and vecuronium bromide) and 2 autonomic drugs (atropine and phenylephrine hydrochloride) were evaluated. Drugs were tested with and without the addition of a surface-acting penetrating agent, either saponin or benzalkonium chloride. The agent that resulted in the most significant change in pupillary diameter with the fewest systemic side effects in the cockatoos then was evaluated for its effects in the African gray parrots and the Blue-fronted Amazon parrots. During each drug trial, 1 eye was randomly selected to receive the control drug (0.9% NaCl), and the opposite eye was selected to receive the test drug. Each pupil was videotaped 5 (cockatoos only), 15, 30, 45, 60, and 75 minutes after treatment. Pupil diameters were measured by use of a computerized image analysis system. Data for pupil size were analyzed by means of repeated measures ANOVA.


RESULTS
Vecuronium without the addition of a surface-acting penetrating agent produced the most consistent and greatest pupillary dilatation in all 3 species with the fewest systemic side effects.


CONCLUSIONS
Vecuronium is potentially a clinically useful, topical mydriatic agent for use in avian species. Documented differences in the prevalence of systemic side effects between species suggests that caution should be applied when applying this drug bilaterally.
Ramer
J C
JC
Department of Surgical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison 53706, USA.
Paul-Murphy
J
J
Brunson
D
D
Murphy
C J
CJ
D000818:Animals; D001285:Atropine / Q000494:pharmacology; D009184:Mydriatics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003473:Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D010197:Pancuronium / Q000494:pharmacology; D010276:Parasympatholytics / Q000494:pharmacology; D010311:Parrots / Q000502:physiology*; D010656:Phenylephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011563:Psittaciformes / Q000502:physiology*; D011680:Pupil / Q000187:drug effects*; D013566:Sympathomimetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D014403:Tubocurarine / Q000494:pharmacology; D014673:Vecuronium Bromide / Q000494:pharmacology; D014743:Videotape Recording
D009184:Mydriatics; D003473:Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D010276:Parasympatholytics; D013566:Sympathomimetics; D010656:Phenylephrine; D001285:Atropine; D014673:Vecuronium Bromide; D010197:Pancuronium; D014403:Tubocurarine