Hypoxemia after single-shot anesthesia in common marmosets

Naho Konoike, Miki Miwa, Akiyo Ishigami, Katsuki Nakamura

BACKGROUND:
It remains unknown how single-shot anesthesia influences physical
parameters, especially respiratory function and blood oxygen level of
common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) which came to be used for
laboratory research.

METHODS:
We measured blood oxygen levels, both before and after oxygenation, in
13 common marmosets under two single-shot anesthesia conditions:
ketamine/xylazine/atropine and alphaxalone.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS:
We found that SpO2 values decreased to about 80% in the
ketamine/xylazine/atropine protocol and fell just below 90% in the
alphaxalone protocol. We observed a clear decrease in PaO2 values under
the anesthetized condition compared to the awake condition. Our data
indicate that single-shot anesthesia may cause hypoxemia in marmosets.
Previous studies on other non-human primate have reported no SpO2
decrease and hypoxemia; thus, our experiment suggests that marmosets may
have a more fragile respiratory system and require intensive veterinary
care during anesthesia.

Journal of Medical Primatology 2017;00:1-5
doi: 10.1111/jmp.12262
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jmp.12262/abstract

2017/04/08 Primate Research Institute