Doctoral Thesis
Chemical immobilisation of African wildlife: the pharmacokinetics, bioavailability and tissue residue depletion of immobilising drugs
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Murdoch University
Abstract
Thiafentanil is a widely administered μ-opioid agonist used for the chemical immobilisation of African wildlife. It provides rapid immobilisation that is completely antagonised by the administration of naltrexone. Chemical immobilisation of wildlife is frequently implemented to facilitate management and conservation. Despite the administration of these drugs to a wide variety of wildlife species, limited pharmacokinetic and tissue residue depletion data have been reported. The potential for wildlife immobilised with these drugs to be hunted for human consumption raises concerns of drug residues in animal tissues and the risk of secondary intoxication in humans. This study aimed to investigate the pharmacokinetics and tissue residue depletion of thiafentanil using goats as a model species for ungulates.
Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) methods were developed and validated to detect thiafentanil and naltrexone in biological matrices collected from goats. Goats were immobilised with 90 μg/kg thiafentanil administered intravenously in the first event and intramuscularly in the second. Plasma samples were collected up to 120 minutes post administration in both events. Injection site, longissimus dorsi, liver and kidney samples were collected 1-, 2-, 3- and 6-days after the intramuscular immobilisation event. Biological samples were analysed using the developed LC-MS/MS method. Plasma concentrations were used to model the pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of single-dose intramuscular and intravenous administration of thiafentanil.
This work presented novel LC-MS/MS methods to simultaneously detect these drugs in biological matrices. This study reports key pharmacokinetic data, indicating that thiafentanil has a quick distribution and absorption phase. The pharmacokinetics provide a framework for optimising dosing across wild ungulate species. Thiafentanil and naltrexone were not present above the lowest limit of quantification in the tissue samples. The analytical methods and residue depletion data provide a foundation for future pharmacokinetic and residue depletion studies of these drugs in wildlife species.
Details
- Title
- Chemical immobilisation of African wildlife: the pharmacokinetics, bioavailability and tissue residue depletion of immobilising drugs
- Authors/Creators
- Judy T Christie
- Contributors
- Mieghan Bruce (Supervisor) - Murdoch University, Centre for Biosecurity and One HealthMichael Laurence (Supervisor)Liesel Laubscher (Supervisor)Silke Pfitzer (Supervisor) - Tshwane University of TechnologyTracy Kellermann (Supervisor) - Stellenbosch University
- Awarding Institution
- Murdoch University; Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
- Identifiers
- 991005802446707891
- Murdoch Affiliation
- Murdoch University
- Resource Type
- Doctoral Thesis
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