Accelerated induction of etorphine immobilization in blue wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus) through the addition of hyaluronidase

ObjectiveTo study the effects of the addition of hyaluronidase (HA) to an etorphine/azaperone drug combination on induction times of immobilization.Study designExperimental part-randomized ‘blinded’ cross-over study.AnimalsEight wild managed blue wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus).MethodsAnimals were immobilized, on separate occasions separated by two weeks, with one of four treatments. Treatments were; ‘Control drugs (CD), etorphine 0.01 mg kg⁻¹ + azaperone at 0.1 mg kg⁻¹; treatment 1 CD + 5000IU HA; treatment 2 CD + 7500 IU HA; and treatment 3 etorphine 0.007 mg kg⁻¹ + azaperone at 0.07 mg kg⁻¹ + 7500 IU HA. Times to first effect and to immobilization (from darting to possible to approach and blindfold) were measured. anova was used to compare treatments. Results are given in means ± SD (range).ResultsFor control, and treatments 1–3 respectively, times (in minutes) to first effect were 1.58 ± 0.42 (1.02–2.10), 1.64 ± 0.42 (0.95–2.17), 1.12 ± 0.24 (0.80–1.48) and 1.60 ± 0.21 (1.13–1.88) and to immobilization were 5.38 ± 1.53 (3.82–8.07), 3.80 ± 1.14 (2.02–5.50), 3.51 ± 1.08 (2.28–5.52) and 4.46 ± 0.67 (3.30–5.40). Compared to control, time to first effect for treatment 2 was significantly shorter. Time to immobilization was significantly quicker in all three treatments containing HA than that for control.Conclusion and clinical relevanceHyaluronidase can reduce the time to immobilization when used in the immobilizing dart, and might be usefully incorporated into etorphine combinations for darting wildlife.     

Malignant catarrhal fever virus specific secretory IgA in nasal secretions of wildebeest calves

Wildebeest IgA was isolated from nasal secretions and precolostrum. It was indentified by cross-reaction with anti-human and anti-bovine IgA sera.

Nasal secretions collected from wildebeest calves over 3 months old had malignant catarrhal fever virus neutralizing antibody activity. They also contained specific IgA to the virus as detected by indirect immunofluorescence. It is suggested that production of malignant catarrhal fever virus specific IgA in the nasal cavity, contributes to the elimination and cassation of the virus shed in the nasal secretions of wildebeest calves over 3 months. old.     

Antibodies in carrier wildebeest to the lymphoproliferative herpesvirus of malignant catarrhal fever

Six types of antibody to malignant catarrhal fever virus (MCFV) were measured in 132 sera collected from Wildebeest in Kenya Masailand. The titre of all types of antibody declined slowly with increasing age of the wildebeest. A significantly greater proportion of wildebeest calves had higher titres of antibodies to MCFV early antigens, IgM antibodies to MCFV late antigens and complement-fixing antibodies, than did older animals. One seronegative calf, reared in isolation without colostrum, became seropositive 4 1/2 weeks after birth but did not show any clinical signs indicative of MCFV infection. Similarities between MCFV infection of wildebeest calves and other inapparent infections with lymphoproliferative herpesviruses are discussed.