Analgesic efficacy of hydromorphone in American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis)
BackgroundAmerican alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) are maintained in zoos, aquaria, and farms for educational, research, and production purposes. The standard of veterinary medical care and welfare for captive reptiles requires managing pain and discomfort under conditions deemed painful in...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Veterinary Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2025.1520172/full |
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| author | Scott E. Henke David B. Wester Cord B. Eversole Javier O. Huerta Clayton D. Hilton Kurt K. Sladky |
| author_facet | Scott E. Henke David B. Wester Cord B. Eversole Javier O. Huerta Clayton D. Hilton Kurt K. Sladky |
| author_sort | Scott E. Henke |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundAmerican alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) are maintained in zoos, aquaria, and farms for educational, research, and production purposes. The standard of veterinary medical care and welfare for captive reptiles requires managing pain and discomfort under conditions deemed painful in mammals. While analgesic efficacy and pharmacokinetic data for several reptile species are published, data with respect to analgesic efficacy in crocodilians are clearly lacking.ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to determine the analgesic efficacy of hydromorphone in alligators.MethodsFemale American alligators (N = 9; 57 months of age) were exposed to mechanical noxious stimuli at multiple anatomic sites using von Frey filaments ranging in size from 1.65 to 6.65 grams-force, and their behavioral reactions recorded. In order to evaluate analgesic efficacy, hydromorphone (0.5 mg/kg SC) was administered in the axillary region to the same alligators and the mechanical noxious stimuli were repeated and behaviors recorded.ResultsAdministration of hydromorphone contributed to a range from 62 to 92% reduced avoidance reactions to mechanical noxious stimuli for two anatomic sites (i.e., naris and lateral mandible, respectively).ConclusionAlligators did not appear to experience clinically relevant respiratory depression, hypothermia, or other adverse reactions. Therefore, hydromorphone shows promise as an analgesic option to be administered under painful conditions in American alligators. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5cc718c034254fce85d7fdf71e60955b |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2297-1769 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Veterinary Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-5cc718c034254fce85d7fdf71e60955b2025-02-03T06:33:46ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Veterinary Science2297-17692025-02-011210.3389/fvets.2025.15201721520172Analgesic efficacy of hydromorphone in American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis)Scott E. Henke0David B. Wester1Cord B. Eversole2Javier O. Huerta3Clayton D. Hilton4Kurt K. Sladky5Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Kingsville, Kingsville, TX, United StatesCaesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Kingsville, Kingsville, TX, United StatesArthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture, Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches, TX, United StatesCaesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Kingsville, Kingsville, TX, United StatesCaesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Kingsville, Kingsville, TX, United StatesDepartment of Surgical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United StatesBackgroundAmerican alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) are maintained in zoos, aquaria, and farms for educational, research, and production purposes. The standard of veterinary medical care and welfare for captive reptiles requires managing pain and discomfort under conditions deemed painful in mammals. While analgesic efficacy and pharmacokinetic data for several reptile species are published, data with respect to analgesic efficacy in crocodilians are clearly lacking.ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to determine the analgesic efficacy of hydromorphone in alligators.MethodsFemale American alligators (N = 9; 57 months of age) were exposed to mechanical noxious stimuli at multiple anatomic sites using von Frey filaments ranging in size from 1.65 to 6.65 grams-force, and their behavioral reactions recorded. In order to evaluate analgesic efficacy, hydromorphone (0.5 mg/kg SC) was administered in the axillary region to the same alligators and the mechanical noxious stimuli were repeated and behaviors recorded.ResultsAdministration of hydromorphone contributed to a range from 62 to 92% reduced avoidance reactions to mechanical noxious stimuli for two anatomic sites (i.e., naris and lateral mandible, respectively).ConclusionAlligators did not appear to experience clinically relevant respiratory depression, hypothermia, or other adverse reactions. Therefore, hydromorphone shows promise as an analgesic option to be administered under painful conditions in American alligators.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2025.1520172/fullAlligator mississippiensisAmerican alligatoranalgesiahydromorphonenociceptionvon Frey |
| spellingShingle | Scott E. Henke David B. Wester Cord B. Eversole Javier O. Huerta Clayton D. Hilton Kurt K. Sladky Analgesic efficacy of hydromorphone in American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) Frontiers in Veterinary Science Alligator mississippiensis American alligator analgesia hydromorphone nociception von Frey |
| title | Analgesic efficacy of hydromorphone in American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) |
| title_full | Analgesic efficacy of hydromorphone in American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) |
| title_fullStr | Analgesic efficacy of hydromorphone in American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Analgesic efficacy of hydromorphone in American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) |
| title_short | Analgesic efficacy of hydromorphone in American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) |
| title_sort | analgesic efficacy of hydromorphone in american alligators alligator mississippiensis |
| topic | Alligator mississippiensis American alligator analgesia hydromorphone nociception von Frey |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2025.1520172/full |
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