Comparative evaluation of hematobiochemical effects of caudal epidural administration of detomidine, lidocaine, and lidocaine/detomidine in dromedary calf camels

The present study aims to comparatively evaluate the effects of caudal epidural detomidine, lidocaine, and lidocaine/detomidine on hematobiochemical parameters in dromedary calf camels. A total of ten male dromedary calf camels (Camelus dromedarius) with the age of 20 ± 2 weeks and weight of 85 ± 5.5 kg were used for the study. The animals were enrolled to five groups (4 experimental and 1 control group) in a randomized, crossover Latin square design, with a minimum washout period of 7 days between treatments. Calves in groups DL and DH received epidural low (25 μg kg⁻¹) and high (50 μg kg⁻¹) dose of detomidine, respectively. Groups L and L/D received epidural lidocaine (0.22 mg kg⁻¹) and lidocaine/detomidine (0.22 mg kg⁻¹/50 μg kg⁻¹), respectively. Calves in the control group were assigned to receive epidural normal saline. Correct spinal needle (18-gauge, 3.7 cm) insertion in the epidural space was confirmed by hanging drop method and loss of resistance to the drug injection. Blood samples were collected at T0 (baseline), T2, and T24 hours and were divided into two parts: one for hematological evaluation and the other one for serological analyses. Sera were analyzed for sodium (Na⁺), potassium (K⁺), calcium (Ca²⁺), creatinine (Cr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), glucose (Glu), alanine transaminase (ALT), and aspartate transaminase (AST). One-way ANOVA with Tukey’s post hoc tests was used to compare mean values of hematobiochemical indices at similar times among different groups of studies. Except for packed cell volume (PCV), all hematological parameters showed no statistically significant changes during our experiment. At T24, PCV value decreased significantly in DH and L/D groups, compared with DL, L, and control groups (p ≤ 0.001). Serum concentrations of biochemical variables including Na⁺, Ca²⁺, ALT, AST, Cr, and BUN were not significantly different among all groups during the experiment (p > 0.05). At T24 hours, serum concentrations of K⁺ and Glu showed a significant increase in DH and L/D groups, compared with other studies groups (p < 0.05). Therefore, epidural high dose detomidine in combination with lidocaine is not recommended for calf camels suffering from conditions including hematological, metabolic, acid-base, and electrolyte problems.