(825.13) Experience in the application of remote anesthesia in Callorhinus ursinus

Poster Board Number: D13

Anastasia Nikitina (Saint-Petersburg State University of Veterinary Medicine), Viktoriya Gaponova (Saint-Petersburg State University of Veterinary Medicine), Lidiya Bukina (Vyatka state agrotechnological university), Vyacheslav Trushkin (Saint-Petersburg State University of Veterinary Medicine), Vladimir Burkanov (KAMCHATKA BRANCH OF PACIFIC GEOGRAPHICAL INSTITUTE FAR EASTERN BRANCH OF RUSSIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES (KB PGI FEB RAS), Marine Mammal Laboratory Alaska Fisheries Science Center, NMFS, NOAA)

Marine mammals often become entangled in various objects of anthropogenic origin floating on the surface of the water. Plastic, polyethylene, synthetic packing straps, and fishing gear threaten marine mammals in the water and on land. The study was carried out on 29 specimens of Callorhinus ursinus. We used a combined Zoletil 100 and Medetin 1% for remote sedation of injured Callorhinus ursinus to release foreign objects.

Results: the first signs of anesthesia were recorded 3-5 minutes after drug delivery. The difficulty of movement, coordination disorder, weakness were noted. After 5-15 minutes, the animals lay down but reacted to touch, and their eyes were open. After 15-20 minutes, the animals lay motionless, practically not reacting to external stimuli. Their eyes were in a half-closed state. In this state, it is possible to carry out manipulations to remove foreign objects from the animal. The depth of narcotic sleep varied depending on the dose: mild sedation developed at Medetin 1% 0.02-0.03 mg/kg and Zoletil 100 0.45-0.65 mg/kg. The animals were lying down, we could approach them, but they reacted to touches and loud sounds. The eyes were open, and it was dangerous to carry out any manipulations with such animals. The seals did not fall into a deep sleep; after 30-60 minutes without the use of antagonists, they began to move, but there was a slight impairment of coordination of movements for 1-2 hours. Moderate sedation was observed at a dose of 0.03-0.05 mg / kg Medetin 1% and 0.5-0.9 mg / kg Zoletil 100. The animals lay motionless; sometimes, there was a slight twitching of their fins, whiskers, or ears during manipulation of slight pain. Eyes half-closed. It is possible to carry out small short-term manipulations with the animal to remove a foreign object without strong painful sensations. After 30-60 minutes, the seals wiggled their flippers and tried to raise their heads. They began to move independently after 1-1.5 hours. Slight impairment of coordination was noted 1.5-2 hours after full awakening. At a dose of 0.05-0.09 mg/kg Medetin 1% and 0.8-2.0 mg/kg Zoletil 100, the animals lay motionless and did not react to external stimuli, even during painful manipulations or movement. This sedation is deep, suitable for painful procedures to remove foreign objects with deep skin lesions. Without the use of antagonists, such animals woke up after 1-1.5 hours. They began to move their flippers, mustache, move around after 2.5-3 hours. Determining the optimal doses of drugs for remote anesthesia of marine mammals is essential, both for the safe release of foreign objects from the animals and also for the people who perform this work.