title: Accelerated induction of etorphine immobilization in blue wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus) through the addition of hyaluronidase.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the effects of the addition of hyaluronidase (HA) to an etorphine/azaperone drug combination on induction times of immobilization.
  
  
  METHODS
  Experimental part-randomized 'blinded' cross-over study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight wild managed blue wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus).
  
  
  METHODS
  Animals were immobilized, on separate occasions separated by two weeks, with one of four treatments. Treatments were; 'Control drugs (CD), etorphine 0.01 mg kg(-1)  + azaperone at 0.1 mg kg(-1) ; treatment 1 CD + 5000IU HA; treatment 2 CD + 7500 IU HA; and treatment 3 etorphine 0.007 mg kg(-1)  + azaperone at 0.07 mg kg(-1)  + 7500 IU HA. Times to first effect and to immobilization (from darting to possible to approach and blindfold) were measured. anova was used to compare treatments. Results are given in means ± SD (range).
  
  
  RESULTS
  For control, and treatments 1-3 respectively, times (in minutes) to first effect were 1.58 ± 0.42 (1.02-2.10), 1.64 ± 0.42 (0.95-2.17), 1.12 ± 0.24 (0.80-1.48) and 1.60 ± 0.21 (1.13-1.88) and to immobilization were 5.38 ± 1.53 (3.82-8.07), 3.80 ± 1.14 (2.02-5.50), 3.51 ± 1.08 (2.28-5.52) and 4.46 ± 0.67 (3.30-5.40). Compared to control, time to first effect for treatment 2 was significantly shorter. Time to immobilization was significantly quicker in all three treatments containing HA than that for control.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hyaluronidase can reduce the time to immobilization when used in the immobilizing dart, and might be usefully incorporated into etorphine combinations for darting wildlife.
authors: Department of Paraclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; Department of Production Animal Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.
authors: Mark J
authors: MJ
authors: Dittberner
authors: Leon
authors: L
authors: Venter
authors: Vinny
authors: V
authors: Naidoo
mesh_terms: D000759:Adjuvants, Anesthesia / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild; D000866:Antelopes; D001376:Azaperone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D054810:Deep Sedation / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D005048:Etorphine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006821:Hyaluronoglucosaminidase / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007103:Immobilization / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D000759:Adjuvants, Anesthesia; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D001376:Azaperone; D005048:Etorphine; D006821:Hyaluronoglucosaminidase
keywords: azaperone; blue wildebeest; etorphine; hyaluronidase; immobilization time