Anaesthetic induction with alfaxalone in Jungle Carpet Python (Morelia Spilota Cheynei)

The aim of this investigation was to assess the clinical use of alfaxalone as a short-acting anaesthetic agent for induction to inhalation anaesthesia in jungle carpet pythons (Morelia spilota cheynei). Ten healthy, captive, sub-adult jungle carpet pythons (1.1±0.32 kg bw) were anaesthetised using a dose of 10mg/kg of alfaxalone, administered intravenously to the ventral tail vein. Heart rate (HR) and respiratory rate (RR) were recorded before administration (T0), and every 5 minutes until the snakes fully recovered from the anaesthesia. The induction time, time of tail-pinch reflex loss, tracheal tube insertion time, interval of deep anaesthesia, and the time of full recovery were recorded. The induction time occurred within 3.1±0.8 minutes. The tail-pinch reflex loss was lost within 5.6±0.7 minutes. The mean tracheal tube insertion time, the interval of deep anaesthesia, and the time of full recovery were 6.9±0.9 minutes, 18.8±4.7 minutes, and 36.7±11.4 minutes, respectively. A prolonged time of full recovery was recorded in two snakes (61.3 and 62.6 minutes, respectively). Their mean heart rate was statistically higher (P<0.05) at T5, T15 and T20 when compared with the basal HR at T0. The respiratory rate of the snakes dropped at T5 and was statistically lower (P<0.05) from T5 until T20 when compared with RR at all other time points. In two snakes apnoea was recorded at T5. Intravenous administration of alfaxalone proved to be a valuable method of induction, suitable for a subsequent inhalation anaesthesia in jungle carpet pythons.