title: Arterial pH and Blood Lactate Levels of Anesthetized Mongolian Khulan ( Equus hemionus hemionus) in the Mongolian Gobi Correlate with Induction Time.
abstract: Research and conservation of wide-ranging wild equids in most cases necessitate capture and handling of individuals. For free-roaming Mongolian khulan ( Equus hemionus hemionus), also known as the khulan, capture involves a strenuous, high-speed chase, and physiologic responses have yet to be elucidated. We analyzed sequential arterial blood gas (ABG) samples as a proxy for respiratory and metabolic status of khulan during capture-related anesthesia. We recorded precise chase and induction times and monitored vital parameters and ABG from free-ranging khulan during anesthesia performed for GPS collaring. At the initiation of anesthesia, animals had ABG values similar to those recorded for thoroughbred horses ( Equus caballus ) after maximal exercise. Longer induction times resulted in higher arterial pH (P<0.001) and lower blood lactate (P<0.002). This trend of improvement continued over the course of anesthesia. The most important factor explaining pH and lactate was the time that elapsed between cessation of the chase and obtaining the first ABG sample, which, under field conditions, is tightly linked to induction time. All animals recovered uneventfully. Our data show that khulan recover and shift their metabolic status back toward expected normal values during opioid-based field anesthesia.
authors.affiliation: 1 Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, Department of Integrative Biology and Evolution, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Savoyenstraße 1, 1160 Vienna, Austria;
authors.forename: Hanno
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gerritsmann
authors.affiliation: 1 Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, Department of Integrative Biology and Evolution, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Savoyenstraße 1, 1160 Vienna, Austria;
authors.forename: Gabrielle L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Stalder
authors.affiliation: 1 Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, Department of Integrative Biology and Evolution, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Savoyenstraße 1, 1160 Vienna, Austria;
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kaczensky
authors.affiliation: 2 Wildlife Conservation Society, Mongolia Program, PO Box 485, Post Office 38, Ulaanbaatar 15141, Mongolia;
authors.forename: Bayarbaatar
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Buuveibaatar
authors.affiliation: 2 Wildlife Conservation Society, Mongolia Program, PO Box 485, Post Office 38, Ulaanbaatar 15141, Mongolia;
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Payne
authors.affiliation: 3 State Central Veterinary Laboratory, Khan-Uul District, Ulaanbaatar 17024, Mongolia;
authors.forename: Sukhbaatar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Boldbaatar
authors.affiliation: 1 Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, Department of Integrative Biology and Evolution, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Savoyenstraße 1, 1160 Vienna, Austria;
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Walzer
mesh_terms: D000075:Acepromazine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D000758:Anesthesia / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D002077:Butorphanol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D018397:Equidae / Q000097:blood*; D005048:Etorphine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D007103:Immobilization / Q000662:veterinary; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008986:Mongolia; D005082:Physical Exertion; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists; D004338:Drug Combinations; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D007093:Imidazoles; D019344:Lactic Acid; D005048:Etorphine; D000075:Acepromazine; C041255:detomidine; D002077:Butorphanol
keywords: Anesthesia; Equus hemionus; arterial; equid; lactate; pH; wild