Evaluación de tres analgésicos–anestésicos epidurales sobre el dolor mediante biomarcadores salivales y plasmáticos en bovinos

Abstract

This study evaluates the efficacy of three epidural anesthetic-analgesic protocols (2% lidocaine, 10% xylazine, and 35 µg/kg detomidine) for pain control in adult cattle undergoing hoof surgery, using plasma and salivary biomarkers and behavioral scales. The study was conducted with nine male bovines (seven surgical and two controls). Samples were collected at baseline, 30 minutes, and 24 hours post-surgery. Plasma cortisol levels remained within the physiological range (0.5–5.5 µg/dL), except for one peak of 6.37 µg/dL; serum amyloid A was normal in all cases. Pain scores (scale 1-5) decreased from 5 to 1 in the surgical group and increased from 1 to 3 in controls due to handling stress. Chi-square showed a significant association (p=0.003) between surgery with anesthesia and low postoperative pain. Detomidine presented the lowest cortisol concentrations at 30 minutes (1.40 µg/dL) and 24 hours (2.34 µg/dL), while lidocaine showed the highest value at 24 hours (5.02 µg/dL), although without significant differences (p>0.05). It is concluded that all three protocols effectively control surgical stress, but detomidine exhibited the best overall analgesic profile. Individual variability highlights the need for personalized monitoring.

Keywords bovine pain, epidural anesthesia, cortisol, serum amyloid A, animal welfare