title: Vecuronium bromide, phenylephrine and atropine combinations as mydriatics in juvenile double-crested cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus).
abstract: Topical vecuronium bromide (Norcuron) and combinations with atropine and phenylephrine, were evaluated as mydriatics in juvenile double-crested cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus). Nine cormorants were treated with each of four protocols: 1% atropine; 4 mg/mL vecuronium bromide (total 0.16 mg/eye); atropine with vecuronium; and atropine, 2.5% phenylephrine, followed by vecuronium. Drugs were applied topically at 15-min intervals (0.01 mL/drop). Pupil diameter was measured manually every 15 min with a pupil gauge calibrated to the nearest 0.5 mm. No effect was observed with atropine alone. Average +/- SD peak pupil diameter for vecuronium, atropine/vecuronium, and atropine/phenylephrine/vecuronium were 5.4 +/- 1.1 mm, 5.7 +/- 0.8 mm and 6.2 +/- 0.4 mm, respectively; and duration of peak diameters were 38 +/- 28 min, 79 +/- 71 min and 103 +/- 58 min, respectively. The combined atropine, phenylephrine and vecuronium provided the most consistent dilation with larger average pupil size and longer average duration. No side-effects from vecuronium were observed in these birds.
authors.affiliation: Dept of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, PO Box 100126, Gainesville, FL 32610-0126, USA. susan.m.loerzel@aphis.usda.gov
authors.forename: Suzan M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Loerzel
authors.forename: Patricia J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Andy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Howe
authors.forename: Don A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Samuelson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild; D001285:Atropine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D001717:Birds; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D009184:Mydriatics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D010656:Phenylephrine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D011680:Pupil / Q000187:drug effects*; D014673:Vecuronium Bromide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D009184:Mydriatics; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D010656:Phenylephrine; D001285:Atropine; D014673:Vecuronium Bromide