HALOTHANE TESTING FOR MALIGNANT HYPERTHERMIA IN SWINE - DOSE-RESPONSE EFFECTS

  • 1 January 1984
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 45  (9) , 1734-1736
Abstract
Purebred Pietrain malignant hyperthermia (MH)-susceptible pigs (n = 102) were subjected to halothan (0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5%) in O2. The number of pigs in each group exhibiting muscle rigidity (MH(+)reaction) and the reaction times were recorded, as were the number of deaths resulting from MH. Mortality was not affected by the halothane concentration. Halothan concentration did markedly affect the number of MH(+)reactions and the reaction times. False-negative reactions were apparent in the pigs at halothane concentrations < 3%. Increasing the halothan concentration incrementally to 5% (from 0%) significantly (P < 0.05) decreased reaction times between treatment groups. The reductions in reaction times which occurred in the pigs given the 3, 4 and 5% halothane concentrations (62.1, 56.2 and 50.05), although significant (P < 0.05), would indicate that 3% halothane would generally be sufficient for MH testing. [Implications with respect to the use of this technique to identify MH-suseptible pigs in breeding stock are presented].