EVALUATION FOR MALIGNANT HYPERTHERMIA SUSCEPTIBILITY IN BLACK-TAILED DEER

To investigate a possible link of malignant hyperthermia to capture my opathy, between June 1990 and July 1993 we anesthetized four black-tai led deer (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus) and challenged them with ha lothane and succinylcholine. Halothane had no significant effect on ox ygen consumption. Succinylcholine significantly (P < 0.05) increased c ardiac output (mean +/- SD), from 2.94 +/- 1.05 1/min to 5.26 +/- 1.79 1/min, and oxygen consumption, from 5.5 +/- 2.1 ml/kg/min to 10.1 +/- 2.9 ml/kg/min. Muscle biopsy specimens tested for malignant hyperther mia susceptibility responded normally to halothane and caffeine. We co nclude that these deer did not experience malignant hyperthermia, sugg esting no link to capture myopathy.