J Vet Sci.  2011 Mar;12(1):103-105. 10.4142/jvs.2011.12.1.103.

Effects of alprazolam on capture stress-related serum cortisol responses in Korean raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides koreensis)

• Kim SA
• Lee SY
• Kimura J
• Shin NS

• KMID: 1067345
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4142/jvs.2011.12.1.103

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of alprazolam on the stress that Korean raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides koreensis) may experience while caught in a live trap by measuring their serum cortisol response. The animals were placed in a live trap with or without being pretreated with oral doses of alprazolam. In both groups, pre-trap blood samples were initially collected without anesthesia before the animals were positioned in the live trap; then post-trap blood samples were collected after the animals had remained in the live trap for 2 h. Changes in cortisol levels were observed using a chemiluminescent immunoassay. The level of cortisol increased in the control group and decreased in the alprazolam-pretreatment group (p < 0.05). In this study, we demonstrated that alprazolam pretreatment reduced stress during live trap capture.

Keyword

alprazolam; capture stress; cortisol; Korean raccoon dog; Nyctereutes procyonoide koreensis

MeSH Terms

Alprazolam/*therapeutic use
Animals
Anti-Anxiety Agents/*therapeutic use
Anxiety/*drug therapy
Hydrocorti
*Raccoon Dogs
Republic of Korea
Restraint, Physical/*veterinary

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