d'Ovidio Dario, Monticelli Paolo, Santoro Mario, Adami Chiara
Private Practitioner, Via C. Colombo 118, 80022, Arzano, NA, Italy.
Dep. of Clinical Sciences and Services, Royal Veterinary College, University of London, Hawkshead Campus, AL97TA, Hatfield, UK.
Heliyon. 2019 Apr 25;5(4):e01546. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2019.e01546. eCollection 2019 Apr.
Giant African land snails () are becoming increasingly popular pets and may be anaesthetised to allow diagnostics and surgical procedures. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the anaesthetic effects and anaesthetic-related complications of immersion in 5% ethanol in client-owned African pet land snails, anaesthetised to allow biopsies of the foot for screening of parasites. Variables such as minutes elapsing from immersion to anaesthetic induction and from removal from the bath to return of tentacle withdrawal reflex and recovery from anaesthesia were recorded, as well as the occurrence of adverse effects. Of the 30 snails enrolled, one (3.3%) had a fatal outcome whereas the remaining 29 (96.7%) snails completed the study and recovered from anaesthesia. Time to anaesthetic induction was 25 [25-29] minutes. Recovery was prolonged in one snail, which required 210 minutes to regain normal muscular strength. Time from removal from the ethanol solution to return of tentacle withdrawal reflex was 20 [14-42] minutes. Beside death, other observed adverse effects were production of bubbles (n = 4; 13.3%), and mucus secretion (n = 4; 13.3%). Immersion in 5% ethanol may be regarded as suitable anaesthetic technique for African giant snails for brief and moderately invasive surgical procedures. Nevertheless, recovery from anaesthesia may be prolonged and unpredictable.
非洲大蜗牛正日益成为受欢迎的宠物，并且可能需要进行麻醉以进行诊断和外科手术。本研究的目的是评估将客户拥有的非洲宠物蜗牛浸泡在5%乙醇中的麻醉效果及与麻醉相关的并发症，这些蜗牛被麻醉以便对足部进行活检以筛查寄生虫。记录了从浸泡到麻醉诱导、从移出浴液到触角回缩反射恢复以及从麻醉中苏醒所经过的分钟数等变量，以及不良反应的发生情况。在纳入研究的30只蜗牛中，1只（3.3%）出现致命结局，而其余29只（96.7%）蜗牛完成了研究并从麻醉中苏醒。麻醉诱导时间为25[25 - 29]分钟。有1只蜗牛苏醒时间延长，需要210分钟才能恢复正常肌肉力量。从移出乙醇溶液到触角回缩反射恢复的时间为20[14 - 42]分钟。除死亡外，观察到的其他不良反应包括产生气泡（n = 4；13.3%）和黏液分泌（n = 4；13.3%）。对于非洲大蜗牛的简短和中度侵入性外科手术，浸泡在5%乙醇中可被视为一种合适的麻醉技术。然而，麻醉苏醒可能会延长且不可预测。
