title: Alfaxalone anesthesia by immersion in oriental fire-bellied toads (Bombina orientalis).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To establish an effective alfaxalone concentration to be used for bath immersion of fire-bellied toads (Bombina orientalis) and to describe its effects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective experimental study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirteen oriental fire-bellied toads.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was carried out in two phases. The pilot phase involved five animals and aimed to identify an alfaxalone concentration capable of producing induction of anesthesia, defined as immobility with a head down position and loss of responsiveness to stimulation with a stick. The following trial in an additional eight toads used the effective alfaxalone concentration established during the pilot phase. Data from 11 animals (three toads in the pilot study and the eight additional toads) were analyzed. Twenty minutes after immersion in the anesthetic solution, the toads were removed from the bath, and heart rate, respiratory rate, the righting, myotactic and the nociceptive withdrawal reflexes were evaluated every 5 minutes. The loss of both righting and nociceptive withdrawal reflexes was considered indicative of a surgical depth of anesthesia. The time elapsed from anesthetic induction to return of righting reflex, the quality of recovery and the occurrence of undesired effects were observed and recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Immersion was found to be a suitable anesthetic technique for oriental fire-bellied toads and 200 mg L(-1) alfaxalone concentration produced anesthetic induction in 10 out of 11 toads. Side effects, such as skin irritation, erythema and changes in cutaneous pigmentation, were not observed in any animal. The duration of anesthesia ranged from 10 to 30 minutes after removal of the toads from the alfaxalone bath, and surgical depth of anesthesia was never achieved.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It was concluded that alfaxalone anesthesia induced by immersion in a concentration of 200 mg L(-1) is only suitable for toads undergoing non-invasive short procedures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Clinical Science, Anesthesiology and Pain Therapy Division, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Berne, Berne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Adami
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Clinical Science, Anesthesiology and Pain Therapy Division, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Berne, Berne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Spadavecchia
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Angeli
authors.affiliation: Freelance Veterinarian, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Dario
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: d'Ovidio
mesh_terms: D000758:Anesthesia / Q000662:veterinary; D000777:Anesthetics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001001:Anura / Q000502:physiology*; D007101:Immersion; D011277:Pregnanediones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000777:Anesthetics; D011277:Pregnanediones; C006477:alphaxalone
keywords: alfaxalone; anesthesia; immersion technique; nociception; toads