Effects of Alfaxalone on the Induction and Maintenance of Total Intravenous Anesthesia in Gentoo Penguins (Pygoscelis papua).

Systemic anesthesia in penguins is often achieved using inhalation anesthetic agents alone, and information on injectable drugs for systemic anesthesia is limited. General anesthesia with a minimal effect on circulatory dynamics is necessary to perform noninvasive examinations and treatments in animals, including penguins. In this study, alfaxalone (ALFX), an injectable anesthetic agent, was examined to establish the optimal anesthetic method for gentoo penguins (Pygoscelis papua). Alfaxalone was administered intravenously through the metatarsal vein, and anesthesia was maintained by a constant rate infusion (CRI). A biological monitor was used to record numerous clinical indices, and the anesthetic depth was evaluated every 5 minutes during anesthesia; the CRI was adjusted until the optimal anesthetic depth was obtained. Anesthesia depth was assessed, and the CRI rate was adjusted. The CRI was stopped, and the time until recovery was recorded. Blood samples were collected to analyze plasma concentrations of ALFX. The mean total dose of ALFX required for anesthetic induction was 9 ± 1.9 mg/kg, the intubation time was 126 ± 21 seconds, and the maintenance infusion rate of ALFX was 0.3 ± 0.08 mg/kg/min. The time from discontinuation of anesthesia to extubation was 42 ± 23 minutes, and the time to recovery was 90 ± 33 minutes. Significant changes in the heart rate and blood pressure were not observed during the anesthetic events. The plasma concentration of ALFX under stable anesthesia was 6734 ± 4386 ng/mL (range, 3315-14 326 ng/mL). Although anesthesia using ALFX tended to result in a prolonged time to recovery in gentoo penguins, rapid induction of anesthesia and stable hemodynamics during anesthetic maintenance were achieved. Therefore, ALFX may be considered a suitable anesthetic method for noninvasive examinations and treatments in penguins.