Improved survival of rohu, Labeo rohita (Hamilton-Buchanan) and silver carp, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix (Valenciennes) fingerlings using low-dose quinaldine and benzocaine during transport

The effects of fingerlings immersion in low‐dose benzocaine (15 and 30 mg L⁻¹, silver carp and rohu) and quinaldine (100 μL L⁻¹ silver crap and 250 μL L⁻¹ rohu) for 1, 3 and 6 h on stress responses and survival of rohu, Labeo rohita and silver carp, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix fingerlings were evaluated in a transport simulation experiment. Both quinaldine and benzocaine showed low mortalities (0–2%). The total mortality in control (with no anaesthesia) was 30% for rohu and 14% for silver carp. Quinaldine and benzocaine‐treated fingerlings had significantly higher plasma chloride levels than the control in both species. Benzocaine, quinaldine, as well as the control, had an initial elevation of plasma cortisol levels. Benzocaine lost its effectiveness after 3 h exposure while quinaldine persisted throughout the 6 h experimental period. Both sedatives reduced bacterial build‐up compared with the control. No post‐exposure mortality was observed for any of the transport methods assessed 48 h after the treatment. This study suggests that the use of low‐dose benzocaine or quinaldine during transport has positive effect on the survival and health of rohu and silver carp fingerlings.     

Anaesthesia of Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus) Effect of pre‐anaesthetic sedation,and importance of body weight and water temperature

The efficacy of the anaesthetic agents benzocaine, metacaine (MS‐222), metomidate, 2‐phenoxyethanol, quinaldine and isoeugenol was studied in Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus). Fish with an average body weight of 33 g were anaesthetized at 8 °C and fish with an average body weight of 1243 g were anaesthetized at 8 and 15 °C. Agents were tested individually and as combination anaesthesia comprising pre‐anaesthetic sedation, followed by anaesthesia. Induction and recovery times varied in relation to the body weight and water temperature. Large fish had longer induction times and shorter recovery times, and displayed reduced responsiveness to handling compared with small fish. A higher temperature resulted in shorter induction times, longer recovery times and increased responsiveness to handling. Lower dosages were used for all agents in combination anaesthesia. In small fish, this had no effect on the induction times but resulted in shorter recovery times and reduced responsiveness to handling. In large fish, combination anaesthesia resulted in shorter induction times whereas no uniform trend in recovery times and no differences in responsiveness to handling were observed. Neither individual agents nor combinations blocked all reflex reactions to external stimulation in all fish of any treatment group. MS‐222 and benzocaine, used separately or in combination anaesthesia, were the most effective agents in reducing reflex reactions.     

Anaesthetic efficacy of clove oil,benzocaine, 2‐phenoxyethanol and tricaine methanesulfonate in juvenile marbled spinefoot (Siganus rivulatus)

Anaesthetics are used in aquaculture and fisheries to facilitate routine procedures, such as capture, handling, transportation, tagging, grading and measurements that can often cause injury or induce physiological stress. Two experiments were performed to assess the efficacies of four anaesthetic agents, clove oil, benzocaine, 2‐phenoxyethanol and MS‐222 on juvenile marbled spinefoot rabbitfish (Siganus rivulatus). In the first experiment we tested the lowest effective doses that produced induction and recovery times in 3 min or less and 5 min or less respectively. Dosages were 70 mg L^?1 for clove oil, 60–70 mg L^?1 for benzocaine, 400 μL L^?1 for 2‐phenoxyethanol and 100–125 mg L^?1 for MS‐222. In the second experiment, we determined optimal concentrations of the four anaesthetics if they were to be used to transport rabbitfish fry. Anaesthetic concentrations suitable for handling and transport were: 10–15 mg L^?1 of MS‐222, 5–10 mg L^?1 of benzocaine, 5 mg L^?1 of clove oil and 50–100 μL L^?1 of 2‐phenoxyethanol. All anaesthetic agents are acceptable for use on S. rivulatus, however, 2‐phenoxyethanol, MS‐222 and clove oil appear to be more suitable than benzocaine. Further studies need to be conducted on effects of high and low doses of anaesthetic agents on physiology of marbled spinefoot.     

Daily rhythms of cortisol and glucose and the influence of the light/dark cycle on anaesthesia in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus): Does the timing of anaesthetic administration affect the stress response?

Although daily variations in drug pharmacokinetics have been reported for a variety of teleost species, the influence of this daily variation on the cortisol response following anaesthesia remains poorly understood. To address this, two experiments were performed. The first experiment described the daily patterns of cortisol and glucose secretion in tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). The second experiment investigated how the timing of anaesthetic administration (specifically at mid‐light [ML] or at mid‐dark [MD]) affects the induction and recovery times and plasma cortisol and glucose levels of juvenile Nile tilapia exposed to benzocaine, clove oil or tricaine methanesulphonate (MS‐222). The results revealed that the effect on the stress response associated with the moment when anaesthesia took place (ML or MD) varied according to the treatment (p < 0.05). Cortisol levels were significantly higher at ML for MS‐222 (ML = 116.23 ± 25.55; MD = 48.25 ± 22.33 ng/dl) (p < 0.05) and clove oil (ML 59.73 ± 14.27; MD 38.26 ± 12.07 ng/dl) (p < 0.05), whereas no significant differences were found between ML and MD cortisol levels for the control treatment (ML = 72.91 ± 18.42; MD = 64.80 ± 10.68 ng/dl) (p > 0.05) or in the benzocaine‐treated group (ML = 38.7 ± 4.90; MD = 38.60 ± 3.69 ng/dl) (p > 0.05). The highest plasma cortisol level in ML was found in the MS‐222‐treated group. All the tested anaesthetics had similar cortisol levels at MD (p > 0.05).     

MS-222、丁香油、苯唑卡因对养殖美洲鲥幼鱼的麻醉效果

研究了MS-222、丁香油、苯唑卡因3种麻醉剂对美洲鲥Alosa sapidissima幼鱼的麻醉效果,并运用该3种麻醉剂的适宜剂量对美洲鲥幼鱼进行了运输试验。麻醉试验结果表明:在较高麻醉浓度(MS-222为75 mg/L以上,丁香油为20 mg/L以上,苯唑卡因为40 mg/L以上)下,鱼很快(30 min内)停止鳃盖张合运动,且停止鳃盖运动的鱼在空气中暴露一定时间(10 min内)后也能够复苏;在适宜的麻醉浓度(MS-222为20-30 mg/L,丁香油为8-10 mg/L;苯唑卡因为20-30 mg/L)下,鱼能够进入麻醉状态,且能保持很长时间(12 h);麻醉效果随着水温的升高而增强;在20 mg/L MS-222麻醉剂下,小规格鱼较大规格鱼更容易进入麻醉状态,而在10 mg/L丁香油和20 mg/L苯唑卡因麻醉剂下,小规格鱼却难进入麻醉状态。运输试验结果表明:麻醉运输组和对照组(非麻醉运输组)鱼血清中皮质醇的含量均显著高于基础组(运输前)(P<0.05);麻醉运输后鱼血清中皮质醇的含量虽均有一定程度的升高,但明显低于对照组,其中仅苯唑卡因麻醉运输组鱼血清中皮质醇的含量显著低于对照组(P<0.05)。试验结果表明,苯唑卡因更适合用于运输美洲鲥的麻醉。     

Anaesthesia, sedation and transportation of juvenile Menidia estor (Jordan) using benzocaine and hypothermia

Anaesthesia, sedation and transportation of the Atherinopsid, Menidia estor, were investigated using benzocaine, hypothermia and combinations of the two. The optimum dose rates of benzocaine for sedation of juvenile Chirostoma estor were 15 and 18 mg L⁻¹. When hypothermia was used alone, stable sedation of C. estor was induced at 15 and 12°C, with no mortalities and full recovery after about 8 min. There was synergism when benzocaine and hypothermia were combined, with the optimal combination being at 15°C and 12 mg L⁻¹ benzocaine. Successful transportation was conducted over 3.5 and 8.5 h using combined benzocaine and hypothermia. Aloe vera extract used in the transportation medium reduced scale loss. This work has, for the first time, defined a systematically derived system of safe, long distance, live transportation of this species and others of the genus Menidia.     

Efficacy of benzocaine as an anaesthetic for Crucian carp (Carassius carassius)

ObjectiveTo investigate the anaesthetic induction time and concentrations of stress markers in Crucian carp (Carassius carassius) subjected to different concentrations of benzocaine.Study designProspective experimental study.AnimalsThirty-six Crucian carp [body weight 368.3 ± 22.7 g and length 28.1 ± 1.9 cm (mean ± SD)].MethodsFish were divided into four groups, initially with nine fish per group. Each group was subjected to one of four final concentrations [0, 25, 50 and 100 parts per million (p.p.m.)] of benzocaine. The times to induction of sedation, to pre-anaesthesia and to anaesthesia were recorded according to the behavioural events observed after exposing the fish to benzocaine. At each stage, blood was collected from the caudal vein of three fish of the group, and these three fish were then euthanized. Plasma cortisol and glucose concentrations in the blood samples were measured as indices of stress response.ResultsInduction times for all stages of anaesthesia decreased significantly with increasing concentrations of benzocaine (1678 ± 103, 475 ± 73 and 251 ± 2 seconds for anaesthesia in 25, 50 and 100 p.p.m., respectively). Plasma cortisol and glucose concentrations were significantly lower in the anaesthetized groups than the control group (p < 0.05), and tended to decrease with an increasing dose of benzocaine. The cortisol concentrations (36.1 ± 5.8 ng dL^?1) at the anaesthetic stage for the 100 p.p.m. group were significantly decreased compared with the other groups (67.3 ± 14.9 ng dL^?1 in 25 p.p.m. and 47.6 ± 2.6 ng dL^?1 in 50 p.p.m.). Differences in glucose concentrations between benzocaine-treated groups were not significant.Conclusions and clinical relevanceIn this study, the fish group exposed to 100 p.p.m. benzocaine had a fast induction time for all monitored stages, low circulating cortisol and glucose concentrations and no immediate mortality.     

稀有鮈鲫麻醉方法的研究

在室养条件下观察了MS-222、苯佐卡因和乌拉坦对稀有鮈鲫(Gobiocypris rarus)的麻醉效果。结果表明,乌拉坦不宜作为稀有鮈鲫的麻醉剂,而一定浓度的MS-222或苯佐卡因可导致稀有鮈鲫的快速麻醉;不同麻醉剂浓度、不同的作用时间下,稀有鮈鲫在行为上呈现不同的反应,据此可分为轻度镇静、深度镇静、轻度麻醉、中度麻醉、深度麻醉和髓质麻醉阶段;根据反应时间、恢复时间、维持时间和存活率等,建议使用60mg/L的苯佐卡因或100～110mg/L的MS-222作为深度麻醉剂量。     

苯唑卡因对美洲鲥运输应激的缓解作用研究

以苯唑卡因为麻醉剂,研究了人工养殖1+龄美洲鲥(Alosa sapidissima)幼鱼在有无麻醉剂作用下长途运输2 h后血清皮质醇和生化指标的变化,探索美洲鲥运输后高死亡率的原因以及麻醉剂对运输应激的缓解作用。实验对运输前、运输2 h、加20 mg/L苯唑卡因麻醉运输2 h后的美洲鲥血清中的皮质醇激素以及血液生化指标进行了比较。结果表明,运输应激对美洲鲥皮质醇和血液生理生化指标产生了显著的影响。运输2 h后美洲鲥血清皮质醇激素含量非麻醉运输组[(41.97±17.92)ng/mL,n=9和麻醉运输组[(15.62±1.80)ng/mL,n=9比运输前[(2.05±1.48)ng/mL,n=10分别显著上升20倍和4倍左右(P<0.05),麻醉运输组鱼皮质醇激素显著低于非麻醉运输组(P<0.05)。不加麻醉剂2 h运输应激后血清TP、AP、AKP、CHE、ALT、K+、Ca2+、GLU显著高于运输前水平(P<0.05),白蛋白与球蛋白之比AP/GP显著低于运输前水平(P<0.05),而麻醉运输组的上述指标与运输前没有显著差异。非麻醉运输组和麻醉剂组,运输后血清LDH、AST都呈不显著增加(P>0.05)。实验结果显示,美洲鲥在运输应激后,心脏和肝脏等组织受到一定程度的损伤,可能是导致美洲鲥运输后较高死亡率的原因。麻醉剂苯唑卡因应用于长途运输有助于维持鱼体生化指标的稳定,对鱼体运输应激反应有很好的缓解作用。     

Effects of water temperature and body weight on anaesthetic efficiency in marbled rabbitfish (Siganus rivulatus)

The effects of four anaesthetic agents, tricaine methanesulphonate (MS‐222) (112.5 mg L^?1), 2‐phenoxyethanol (400 μL L^?1), clove oil (70 mg L^?1) and benzocaine (65 mg L^?1) on juvenile marbled spinefoot (Siganus rivulatus) of three mean body weights (7.3 g, 19.1 g, 55.5 g) and at three temperatures (20, 25, 30°C) were evaluated. In addition, the relationship between body lipid content and efficacy of the four anaesthetic agents was evaluated in juvenile S. rivulatus. Times necessary for induction and recovery were recorded. Significant effects of temperature on induction and recovery times were observed. Induction and recovery times decreased with increasing water temperature. No uniform relationship between body weight of juvenile marbled spinefoot and anaesthetic efficacy was observed. Body fat content was positively correlated with induction time only when MS‐222 was used but did not affect induction times of fish exposed to 2‐phenoxyethanol, clove oil or benzocaine. Recovery times were generally longer for all fish containing more body fat. Results of the study show that anaesthetic efficiency increases with increasing water temperature but is not strongly affected by body weight for juvenile marbled spinefoot. In addition, body fat in fish affected the efficacy of the various anaesthetic agents tested in this study, generally slowing down recovery.