title: Immobilization of captive tigers (Panthera tigris) with a combination of tiletamine, zolazepam, and detomidine.
abstract: The aims of this study were to evaluate the effects of the administration of a combination of tiletamine-zolazepam and detomidine (TZD) in 9 tigers (Panthera tigris). Nine captive tigers were immobilized with tiletamine-zolazepam and detomidine administered intramuscularly. At the end of the procedure immobilization was partially reversed with atipamezole. Lateral recumbency was achieved in 15.6 ± 5.9 min. The median induction score [scored 1 (excellent) to 4 (poor)] was 1. The immobilization score [scored 1 (poor) to 6 (too deep)] was 5 (4-5) at all study times. After atipamezole administration, all tigers experienced severe ataxia and incoordination. Median recovery score [scored 1 (excellent) to 4 (poor)] was 2.5 (range 2-3). No neurologic and/or important adverse reactions were noticed within 5 days after recovery. The combination tiletamine-zolazepam with detomidine proved to be effective in immobilizing captive healthy tigers but it maybe associated with hypertension and ataxia during recovery. Zoo Biol. 34:40-45, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals Inc.
authors.affiliation: Centro Veterinario Einaudi, Bari, Italy; Naples' Zoo, Napoli, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Laricchiuta
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: De Monte
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Campolo
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Grano
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Crovace
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Staffieri
mesh_terms: D019162:Anesthetics, Combined / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000778:Anesthetics, Dissociative / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000836:Animals, Zoo; D005260:Female; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007093:Imidazoles; D007103:Immobilization / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D046010:Tigers / Q000502:physiology*; D013992:Tiletamine; D015041:Zolazepam
chemical_list: D019162:Anesthetics, Combined; D000778:Anesthetics, Dissociative; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D007093:Imidazoles; D013992:Tiletamine; C041255:detomidine; D015041:Zolazepam
keywords: Panthera tigris; atipamezole; detomidine; immobilization; telazol