Comparison of oral and intramuscular administration of ketamine hydrochloride and tiletamine-zolazepam in primates

This research involves the administration of the anaesthetic agents through oral route in primates. Five species of primates were used in this research namely Concolor Gibbon, Pig-tailed macaques, Long-tailed macaques, Chimpanzees and Orang utans. Anesthetic agents used are Ketamine and Zoletil. For methodology, it is divided into two. For drug administration, Zoletil or Ketamine was added into food or carbonated drinks and was administered orally to the primates. Sweetened condensed milk or honey was added to counteract the bitterness of the drug. Once the primate was sedated, all medical examinations and treatments were done. For analysing the data, time for the drug to give its effect (onset) and recovery rate are taken into consideration to study the efficacy of oral administration. All the data was collected and analysed by using Independent Student T-test. The result shows that the oral route has faster onset of action but slower recovery rate as compared to intramuscular route. Administration of anaesthetic drugs through intramuscular route causes the primates to agitate and build up stress. Stressed primate has an increase in adrenaline level due to insufficient administration of the drug. Intramuscular route require higher dose of anaesthetic to achieve anaesthesia. Oral route has slower recovery rate due to the slow rate of metabolism of the drug in primate body. There is no significant difference between both routes. Administering anaesthetic agent through oral route has similar efficacy as intramuscular route. Oral route administration of anaesthetic is done effectively among primates. This is considered as a breakthrough in zoo and exotic animal anaesthesia. We advocate clinical veterinarians to use oral anaesthesia for primates for easy administration and less stress condition.