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Am J Vet Res. 2019 Dec;80(12):1114-1121. doi: 10.2460/ajvr.80.12.1114. Comparison of the effects of a dexmedetomidine-ketamine-midazolam anesthetic protocol versus isoflurane inhalation anesthesia on echocardiography variables and plasma cardiac troponin I concentration in black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus).

December 7, 2019 by PDP

Ross E, Thomason JD, Browning GR, Beaufrère H, Eshar D.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To compare the effects of a dexmedetomidine-ketamine-midazolam (DKM) anesthetic protocol versus isoflurane inhalation anesthesia on echocardiographic variables and plasma cardiac troponin 1 (cTnI) concentration in black-tailed prairie dogs (BTPDs; Cynomys ludovicianus)

ANIMALS:

Nine 6-month-old sexually intact male captive BTPDs.

PROCEDURES:

Each BTPD was randomly assigned to be anesthetized by IM administration of dexmedetomidine (0.25 mg/kg), ketamine (40 mg/kg), and midazolam (1.5 mg/kg) or via inhalation of isoflurane and oxygen. Three days later, each BTPD underwent the alternative anesthetic protocol. Echocardiographic data and a blood sample were collected within 5 minutes after initiation and just prior to cessation of each 45-minute-long anesthetic episode.

RESULTS:

Time or anesthetic protocol had no significant effect on echocardiographic variables. For either protocol, plasma cTnI concentration did not differ with time. When administered as the first treatment, neither anesthetic protocol significantly affected plasma cTnI concentration. However, with regard to findings for the second treatments, plasma cTnI concentrations in isoflurane-treated BTPDs (n = 4; data for 1 animal were not analyzed because of procedural problems) were higher than values in DKM-treated BTPDs (4), which was suspected to be a carryover effect from prior DKM treatment.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE:

The DKM and isoflurane anesthetic protocols did not have any significant effect on echocardiographic measurements in the BTPDs. Increases in plasma cTnI concentration during the second anesthetic episode were evident when BTPDs underwent the DKM anesthetic protocol as the first of the 2 treatments, suggestive of potential myocardial injury associated with that anesthetic protocol. Clinicians should consider these findings, especially when evaluating BTPDs with known or suspected cardiac disease.

 

PMID: 31763940

Information about Prairie Dogs Tagged: black-tailed prairie dogs, ecology

Parasitism of Black-Tailed Prairie Dogs by Linognathoides cynomyis (Phthiraptera: Polyplacidae).

September 22, 2018 by PDP

Abstract

The following study investigates louse parasitism of black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus (Ord, Rodentia: Sciuridae)) on 20 plots at 13 colonies in the short-grass prairie of New Mexico, USA, June-August, 2011-2012. Among 124 lice collected from 537 prairie dogs during 1,207 sampling events in which anesthetized animals were combed for ectoparasites, all of the lice were identified as Linognathoides cynomyis (Kim, Phthiraptera: Polyplacidae). Data were analyzed under an information-theoretic approach to identify factors predicting louse parasitism. Lice were most prevalent on plots with high densities of prairie dogs. At the scale of hosts, lice were most abundant on prairie dogs in poor body condition (with low mass:foot ratios) and prairie dogs harboring large numbers of fleas (Siphonaptera, mostly Oropsylla hirsuta (Baker, Siphonaptera: Ceratophyllidae) and Pulex simulans (Baker,Siphonaptera: Pulicidae)). Lice have been implicated as supplemental vectors of the primarily flea-borne bacterium Yersinia pestis (Yersin, Enterobacteriales: Yersiniaceae), a re-emerging pathogen that causes sylvatic plague in prairie dog populations. Coparasitism by lice and fleas, as found herein, might enhance plague transmission. L. cynomyis deserves attention in this context.

Read more:  Parasite

News Tagged: black-tailed prairie dogs, plague

Broomfield reviewing prairie dog policies

April 6, 2017 by PDP

Recent plague activity that killed prairie dogs at the Great Western Reservoir Open Space prompted a public discussion on what steps Broomfield should take next.

Read more at:  Broomfield

News Tagged: black-tailed prairie dogs, plague

Duggan: Prairie dogs score a victory in Fort Collins

February 10, 2017 by PDP

Prairie dogs have scored a victory in Fort Collins, or at least their advocates have.

The City Council on Tuesday gave initial approval to a set of changes to the city’s Land Use Code aimed at giving prairie dogs more protection from development than they have enjoyed during the last 20 years.

Read More:  Fort Collins

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Conservation, News, Wildlife Tagged: black-tailed prairie dogs, Conservation, ecology, keystone species, relocation

Group Sues USA to Stop Prairie Dog Slaughter

February 10, 2017 by PDP

DENVER (CN) — In a lawsuit against the United States, a prairie rejuvenation group claims the Department of Agriculture has poisoned 123,000 prairie dogs in Colorado and shot another 39,000 without doing a proper environmental assessment.

 

 

Read More:  Group

Conservation, News, Wildlife Tagged: black-tailed prairie dogs, Conservation, ecology, Endangered Species Act

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