Sedation of Wild Pyrenean Capercaillie (<i>Tetrao urogallus aquitanicus</i>) Using Intramuscular Midazolam
Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking offers key information in the study of movement ecology of threatened species. Nevertheless, the placement of GPS devices requires animal capture and handling, which may represent a challenge to the individual’s survival after release, mainly due to capture m...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-07-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/14/1773 |
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| author | Olga Nicolás Francisco Ivan Afonso Jordana Diego Garcia Ferré Job Roig Simón Ana Carolina Ewbank Antoni Margalida Irene Sacristán Kévin Foulché Emmanuel Ménoni Carlos Sacristán |
| author_facet | Olga Nicolás Francisco Ivan Afonso Jordana Diego Garcia Ferré Job Roig Simón Ana Carolina Ewbank Antoni Margalida Irene Sacristán Kévin Foulché Emmanuel Ménoni Carlos Sacristán |
| author_sort | Olga Nicolás Francisco |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking offers key information in the study of movement ecology of threatened species. Nevertheless, the placement of GPS devices requires animal capture and handling, which may represent a challenge to the individual’s survival after release, mainly due to capture myopathy. The Pyrenean Capercaillie (<i>Tetrao urogallus aquitanicus</i>) is a threatened galliform especially sensitive to handling, extremely elusive, and challenging to capture. Our goal was to adapt a sedation protocol for Pyrenean Capercaillies undergoing GPS tagging, in order to increase their welfare and safety during the procedure. From 2018 to 2021, 23 wild Pyrenean Capercaillies were captured and sedated for GPS tagging as part of a European conservation project of emblematic Pyrenean avian species. The birds received intramuscular (IM) sedation with midazolam (ranging from 1.9 mg/kg to 8.08 mg/kg) and were handled for 20 to 40 min. Sedation was reversed with flumazenil (0.1 mg/mL IM). The sedated capercaillies were less responsive to stimuli (i.e., closed eyes and recumbency), showing discrete to no response to handling (i.e., placement of the GPS device, physical examination, cloacal temperature measurement, or reflex tests). Such response was compared in birds with sedation doses above and below the average dose (5.17 mg/kg). Only one clinical sign showed statistically significant differences between the two groups (“open-mouth breathing” sign, <i>p</i> = 0.02). A mortality rate of 4.35% was registered (one individual died during handling). Sedation facilitated the handling of the birds and faster interventions in the field, without increasing mortality when compared to handling without sedation. Therefore, sedation was shown to be a useful tool to reduce stress related to capture and handling of the threatened Pyrenean Capercaillie. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T12:22:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d84b539991d346c1adadf05c8b134f05 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T12:22:14Z |
| publishDate | 2022-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-d84b539991d346c1adadf05c8b134f052023-11-30T22:40:03ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152022-07-011214177310.3390/ani12141773Sedation of Wild Pyrenean Capercaillie (<i>Tetrao urogallus aquitanicus</i>) Using Intramuscular MidazolamOlga Nicolás Francisco0Ivan Afonso Jordana1Diego Garcia Ferré2Job Roig Simón3Ana Carolina Ewbank4Antoni Margalida5Irene Sacristán6Kévin Foulché7Emmanuel Ménoni8Carlos Sacristán9Forestal Catalana, Ministry of Climate Action, Food and Rural Agenda (Government of Catalonia), 25595 Lleida, SpainNatural Environment Department, Conselh Generau d’Aran, 25530 Vielha, SpainFlora and Fauna Service, Department of Climatic Action, Food and Rural Agenda (Government of Catalonia), 08036 Barcelona, SpainCasa Bolunya S/N Seurí, 25567 Lleida, SpainLaboratory of Wildlife Comparative Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, Sao Paulo 05508-010, BrazilInstituto Pirenaico de Ecología-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, 22700 Jaca, SpainAnimal Health Research Center, National Institute of Agricultural and Food Research and Technology—The Spanish National Research Council, 28130 Valdeolmos, SpainFrench Biodiversity Agency, Dead End de la Chapelle, 31800 Villeneuve de Rivière, FranceFrench Biodiversity Agency, Dead End de la Chapelle, 31800 Villeneuve de Rivière, FranceAnimal Health Research Center, National Institute of Agricultural and Food Research and Technology—The Spanish National Research Council, 28130 Valdeolmos, SpainGlobal Positioning System (GPS) tracking offers key information in the study of movement ecology of threatened species. Nevertheless, the placement of GPS devices requires animal capture and handling, which may represent a challenge to the individual’s survival after release, mainly due to capture myopathy. The Pyrenean Capercaillie (<i>Tetrao urogallus aquitanicus</i>) is a threatened galliform especially sensitive to handling, extremely elusive, and challenging to capture. Our goal was to adapt a sedation protocol for Pyrenean Capercaillies undergoing GPS tagging, in order to increase their welfare and safety during the procedure. From 2018 to 2021, 23 wild Pyrenean Capercaillies were captured and sedated for GPS tagging as part of a European conservation project of emblematic Pyrenean avian species. The birds received intramuscular (IM) sedation with midazolam (ranging from 1.9 mg/kg to 8.08 mg/kg) and were handled for 20 to 40 min. Sedation was reversed with flumazenil (0.1 mg/mL IM). The sedated capercaillies were less responsive to stimuli (i.e., closed eyes and recumbency), showing discrete to no response to handling (i.e., placement of the GPS device, physical examination, cloacal temperature measurement, or reflex tests). Such response was compared in birds with sedation doses above and below the average dose (5.17 mg/kg). Only one clinical sign showed statistically significant differences between the two groups (“open-mouth breathing” sign, <i>p</i> = 0.02). A mortality rate of 4.35% was registered (one individual died during handling). Sedation facilitated the handling of the birds and faster interventions in the field, without increasing mortality when compared to handling without sedation. Therefore, sedation was shown to be a useful tool to reduce stress related to capture and handling of the threatened Pyrenean Capercaillie.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/14/1773capture myopathyconservationflumazenilGalliformesGPS trackingmovement ecology |
| spellingShingle | Olga Nicolás Francisco Ivan Afonso Jordana Diego Garcia Ferré Job Roig Simón Ana Carolina Ewbank Antoni Margalida Irene Sacristán Kévin Foulché Emmanuel Ménoni Carlos Sacristán Sedation of Wild Pyrenean Capercaillie (<i>Tetrao urogallus aquitanicus</i>) Using Intramuscular Midazolam Animals capture myopathy conservation flumazenil Galliformes GPS tracking movement ecology |
| title | Sedation of Wild Pyrenean Capercaillie (<i>Tetrao urogallus aquitanicus</i>) Using Intramuscular Midazolam |
| title_full | Sedation of Wild Pyrenean Capercaillie (<i>Tetrao urogallus aquitanicus</i>) Using Intramuscular Midazolam |
| title_fullStr | Sedation of Wild Pyrenean Capercaillie (<i>Tetrao urogallus aquitanicus</i>) Using Intramuscular Midazolam |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sedation of Wild Pyrenean Capercaillie (<i>Tetrao urogallus aquitanicus</i>) Using Intramuscular Midazolam |
| title_short | Sedation of Wild Pyrenean Capercaillie (<i>Tetrao urogallus aquitanicus</i>) Using Intramuscular Midazolam |
| title_sort | sedation of wild pyrenean capercaillie i tetrao urogallus aquitanicus i using intramuscular midazolam |
| topic | capture myopathy conservation flumazenil Galliformes GPS tracking movement ecology |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/14/1773 |
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