Comparison of anesthetic effects of tiletamine-zolazepam-medetomidine or ketamine-medetomidine in captive Amur leopard cats (Prionailurus bengalensis euptailurus).

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects and utility of tiletamine-zolazepam-medetomidine (TZM) and ketamine-medetomidine (KM) for anesthesia of Amur leopard cats (Prionailurus bengalensis euptailurus). STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, randomized experimental trial. ANIMALS: A total of six female (3.70 ± 0.49 kg) and six male (5.03 ± 0.44 kg; mean ± standard deviation) Amur leopard cats aged 2-6 years. METHODS: Each animal was administered four protocols separated by ≥3 weeks. Each protocol included medetomidine (0.05 mg kg-1) combined with tiletamine-zolazepam (1 mg kg-1; protocol MTZLO); tiletamine-zolazepam (2 mg kg-1; protocol MTZHI); ketamine (2 mg kg-1; protocol MKLO); or ketamine (4 mg kg-1; MKHI) administered intramuscularly. At time 0 (onset of lateral recumbency) and 30 minutes, heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (fR), rectal temperature, noninvasive mean arterial pressure (MAP) and hemoglobin oxygen saturation (SpO2) were recorded. Times to onset of lateral recumbency, duration of anesthesia and time to standing were recorded. RESULTS: Overall, animals were anesthetized with all protocols within 10 minutes, anesthesia was maintained ≥57 minutes, and recovery (time from the first head lift to standing) was completed within 5 minutes. During anesthesia with all protocols, HR, fR, rectal temperature, SpO2 and MAP were 99-125 beats minute-1, 33-44 breaths minute-1, 37.6-39.4 °C, 90-95% and 152-177 mmHg, respectively. No adverse event was observed. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: TZM and KM at various dosages resulted in rapid onset of anesthesia, duration of >57 minutes and rapid recovery without administration of an antagonist. Accordingly, all these combinations are useful for anesthetizing Amur leopard cats and for performing simple procedures. However, the low doses of the anesthetic agents are recommended because there was no difference in duration of anesthesia between the dose rates studied.

Quality of cauda epididymal sperm immediately after collection and after freezing-thawing from Amur leopard cats (Prionailurus bengalensis euptilurus) and a local population of the subspecies Tsushima leopard cats.

In this study, cauda epididymal sperm were collected from Amur leopard cats with various causes of death as well as Tsushima leopard cats that underwent castration surgery, and sperm quality was compared with that in domestic cats. A sufficient number of sperm similar to those in domestic cats could be collected from the cauda epididymis of Amur leopard cats. However, in old leopard cats, no or very few cauda epididymal sperm were recovered, although there were no differences in sperm motility and sperm abnormality. There were no significant differences in sperm quality immediately after collection and after freezing-thawing of cauda epididymal sperm compared with corresponding estimates in domestic cats.

Virome Profiling of an Amur leopard cat Reveals Multiple Anelloviruses and a Bocaparvovirus.

As a small top predator, Amur leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis euptilurus) is widely distributed in northeast Asia and plays an important role in the control of small rodent populations and in the maintenance of ecological equilibrium. However, the viruses harbored by this creature have been rarely investigated. Here, we report the DNA and RNA eukaryotic virome profiling of an injured Amur leopard cat followed by PCR validation, which revealed diverse anelloviruses in multiple organs and a bocaparvovirus in the lymph, but no RNA viruses. These anelloviruses have diverse genomic structures and are classified into four phylogroups with viruses of various felines, while the bocaparvovirus is extremely similar to those recovered from diarrheal domestic cats, illustrating the transmission of the virus between domestic animals and wildlife. These data provide the first insight into the genetic diversity of Amur leopard cat viruses, highlighting the need for further investigation of wild animals.

Characterization and cryopreservation of Amur leopard cats (Prionailurus bengalensis euptilurus) semen collected by urethral catheterization.

The Amur leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis euptilurus) is a globally endangered species, and there is thus an urgent need to increase its population. The objectives of this study were to: (1) confirm the utility of urethral catheterization (UC) for semen collection from Amur leopard cats; (2) investigate proper dilution media for fresh semen; and (3) investigate the effectiveness of sperm cryopreservation, including examining the effect of glycerol concentration. Six adult males in captivity (mean weight 5.03 ±â€¯0.44 kg, aged 2-6 years) were included. All study procedures were performed during the breeding season (February to April) over two consecutive years. Semen samples (n = 28) were collected four or five times from each animal (four times for two animals and five times for four animals) by UC under general anaesthesia, and their characteristics (including sperm motility) were evaluated. First, the sperm motility in semen diluted in Ham's F-10 or phosphate buffer saline (PBS) was compared. Next, semen diluted with TEST-yolk buffer containing 2%, 4%, or 6% glycerol was frozen in a liquid nitrogen tank, and sperm motility and acrosome integrity were evaluated after thawing. No difference in motility was observed between sperm diluted in Ham's F-10 and PBS. The percentages of sperm motility and kinetic values in semen frozen in 2% or 4% glycerol were higher than those in semen stored in 6% glycerol. In conclusion, the UC method for semen collection is recommendable for Amur leopard cats and should be useful for artificial insemination. Although sperm motility decreased after thawing, samples thus preserved may be usable for advanced reproductive techniques, such as intracytoplasmic sperm injection or in-vitro fertilization.