IMMOBILIZATION AND PHYSIOLOGICAL-EFFECTS OF THE NARCOTIC A-3080 IN IMPALA (AEPYCEROS-MELAMPUS)

Forty-four impala (Aepyceros melampus) were immobilized with the poten t opioid narcotic A-3080 in Kruger National Park, Republic of South Af rica, to determine the effective dosage range and to evaluate the phys iologic effects of the drug in this species. Nine impala were immobili zed with carfentanil citrate for comparison. Heart rate, respiratory r ate, indirect blood pressure, and relative oxygen saturation were meas ured at 5-min intervals for 25 min after induction. Venous blood sampl es were collected at 10 and 25 min after induction for analysis of tot al CO2. The effective A-3080 dosage required to immobilize 90% of the population of impala within 3 min (ED90) was 80.7 mug/kg, which was no t statistically different from the ED90 for carfentanil of 68.8 mug/kg . The effects of A-3080 or carfentanil on physiologic values were simi lar. Both A-3080 and carfentanil produced apparent hypoventilation ear ly after immobilization based on measurements of respiratory rates, re lative oxygen saturation, and total serum CO2. Carfentanil produced ta chypnea later in the monitoring period. Hypertension and initial, mild tachycardia were consistent findings with A-3080. Little difference w as seen in the physiologic effects produced by dosages of 30, 50, and 80 mug/kg of A-3080. Narcotic antagonists were successful in providing rapid and complete reversal of A-3080 immobilization (diprenorphine, 47 +/- 25 sec; naltrexone, 29 +/- 10.1 sec). No renarcotization was ob served within 24 hr of reversal.