The Efficacy and Safety of Topical Rocuronium Bromide to Induce Bilateral Mydriasis in Hispaniolan Amazon Parrots (Amazona ventralis)

• Published in: Journal of avian medicine and surgery Vol. 30; no. 1; pp. 8 - 13
• Main Authors: Baine, Katherine, Hendrix, Diane V. H, Kuhn, Sonia E, Souza, Marcy J, Jones, Michael P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States The Association of Avian Veterinarians 01.03.2016; Association of Avian Veterinarians
• Subjects: Administration, Topical; Amazona; Amazona ventralis; Androstanols - administration & dosage; Androstanols - adverse effects; Androstanols - pharmacology; Animals; Animals, Zoo; avian; Bromides; dilation; eye; Eyelids; Eyes; Hispaniolan Amazon parrot; Methods; Mydriasis; Mydriatics; Mydriatics - administration & dosage; Mydriatics - adverse effects; Mydriatics - pharmacology; ophthalmic examination; Ophthalmic Solutions; Ophthalmological tests; ORIGINAL STUDIES; Original Study; Owls; Parrots; Physiological aspects; Psittacidae; Pupil; Reflex, Pupillary - drug effects; rocuronium; Rocuronium bromide; Side effects; Students; Time Factors; eye; dilation; mydriasis; rocuronium; Amazona ventralis; ophthalmic examination; Hispaniolan Amazon parrot; avian; pupil
• ISSN: 1082-6742; 1938-2871
• DOI: 10.1647/2015-083

The efficacy and safety of topically applied rocuronium in Hispaniolan Amazon parrots (Amazona ventralis) was assessed in a group of 10 adult birds. A complete ophthalmic examination (including Schirmer tear test, ocular reflexes, applanation tonometry, fluorescein staining, and slit-lamp biomicroscopy) was performed, and rocuronium bromide (0.15 mg in both eyes) was administered. Pupillary light reflex (PLR) and pupillary diameter were recorded in a darkened room at the following time points: 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 80, 100, 120, 140, 160, 180, 200, 220, 240, 300, and 360 minutes, and 24 hours. Fluorescein staining in both eyes was performed at 24 hours. By 10 minutes, PLR was absent in all birds (at 5 minutes, 8 birds; at 10 minutes, remaining 2 birds). Pupil diameter differed significantly from baseline at all time points. Additionally, PLR was decreased in 7/10 birds at 360 minutes and normal in all birds at 24 hours. Superficial corneal ulceration was observed at 24 hours in the left eye of 2/10 of the birds after fluorescein stain application. This study demonstrated that rocuronium bromide was an effective mydriatic agent in Hispaniolan Amazon parrots with rapid onset and prolonged duration of action.