Comparação dos efeitos da associação de dexmedetomidina e cetamina por via intranasal e intramuscular em mico-leão-da-cara-dourada (Leontopithecus chrysomelas)

Abstract

With the advancement and frequent use of anesthesiology in wildlife medicine, especially in primates, animals with aggressive temperaments and extremely agile, the importance of studies related to alternative routes for administering anesthetic drugs is growing. The intranasal route has advantages in the application of medications, including the fact that it is atraumatic, easy to apply, causes minimal discomfort, has a rapid onset of action, accelerates recovery, and provides good sedation and anxiolysis through the use of sedatives. In this context, this study aimed to evaluate and compare the clinical and physiological effects of dexmedetomidine at a dose of 15 µg/kg associated with ketamine at a dose of 10 mg/kg through the intranasal (IN) and intramuscular (IM) routes in golden-faced lion tamarins (Leontopithecus chrysomelas). Eight individuals were used, two in the pilot study and six in the experimental study, all adults, clinically healthy, weighing between 550 and 680 grams, kept at the São Paulo Zoo, subjected to both anesthetic protocols (IN and IM) at different times. Physiological parameters (heart and respiratory rate, systolic blood pressure, rectal temperature and peripheral oxyhemoglobin saturation) and sedation parameters (spontaneous posture, palpebral reflex, eyeball position, response to sound, resistance to lateral decubitus, and general condition of the animal) were measured at 5-minute intervals throughout the procedure (T5-T30); in addition to measuring blood glucose at the beginning and end, and the periods of anesthesia latency and recovery. The results showed that the IN route provided less sedation, with consequent less alteration of physiological parameters, when compared to the IM route. It is concluded that the intranasal route is a potentially viable and safe alternative for the administration of dexmedetomidine associated with ketamine in golden-headed lion tamarins, promoting mild sedation, ideal for quick and minimally invasive procedures, while the intramuscular route provides moderate to intense sedation of longer duration, being more suitable for prolonged interventions.