Electrocardiographic exam in female spotted pacas (Cuniculus paca)

Abstract

RESUMO.-[Exame eletrocardiográfico em pacas fême-as (Cuniculus paca).]Considerando a limitada informação sobre a fisiologia cardíaca em roedores neotropicais e a importância desta informação para estudos fisiopatológicos e de conservação desta espécie, objetivou-se com este estudo avaliar a atividade elétrica cardíaca de pacas saudáveis mantidas em cativeiro, sob restrição química, devido à natureza selvagem destes animais. Onze fêmeas adultas foram avaliadas clinicamente e por meio do hemograma e testes bioquímicos no intuito de descartar qualquer co-morbidade associada. Cada animal foi submetido a três períodos experimentais a cada 15 dias. Após a restrição química com Considering the limited physiological information available on neotropical rodents and the importance of this information for pathophysiological and conservation studies of these species, the aim of this study was to evaluate the cardiac electric physiology of healthy captivity spotted pacas (Cuniculus paca) under chemical restraint, due to wild nature of these animals. Eleven adult female pacas were evaluated by blood count and biochemical dosage to rule out any associate disease. Each animal was evaluated in three periods every 15 days. After chemical restraint with intramuscular midazolam 0.5mg/kg and ketamine 25mg/kg, animals were subjected to a computerized electrocardiogram, where bipolar (DI, DII and DIII) and augmented unipolar leads (aVR, aVL, aVF) were obtained. Descriptive statistics were calculated for each parameter and built the confidence interval (CI) at significance level of 95%. The electrocardiographic examination was performed without difficult. ECG tracing in DII represents a QRS complex with positive polarity, preceded by a P wave of the same polarity and proceeded by T wave of variable polarity. Heart rate mean was 150±17 bpm, and cardiac electrical axis 33.4±21.9°. All animals showed sinusal rhythm. The ECG recording technique associated with chemical restraint was well tolerated, allowing quick acquisition of reliable ECG tracings with high repeatability, which produced sufficient results to determine the heart rhythm and suggest measures of ECG complexes duration and amplitude.

Standard Strain and Strain Rate by Two-Dimensional Speckle Tracking in Agoutis (Dasyprocta prymnolopha) Anesthetized with Ketamine and Xylazine

“…The HR in this study was like the findings for agoutis anesthetized by the same protocol [42] and for pacas (Cuniculus paca), similar sized rodents, also chemically contained [48]. However, it was lower when compared to values obtained for non-anesthetized agoutis [14,15], New Zealand rabbits [41] and guinea pigs [8], smaller rodents.…”

Natural Habitat, Housing, and Restraint of Six Selected Neotropical Animals in Trinidad and Tobago with the Potential for Domestication

“…A net, made of polypropylene material attached to a wire loop, was used to capture female pacas and they were restrained using squeeze cages made of iron [38]. Likewise, physical restraint can be obtained using hand nets [39]. Baited Tomahawk ® live traps (106 × 53 × 40 cm) were reported to have captured live pacas [30]; however, some authors were not successful using these traps [40].…”

“…Azaperone (dose rate of 1 ml/20 kg) and promazine (dose rate of 1 ml/5 kg) were given intramuscularly [42]. Tiletamine-zolazepam (dose rate of 20 mg/kg) and xylazine (dose rate of 1 mg/kg) were given intramuscularly [43]; midazolam (dose rate of 0.5 mg/kg) and ketamine (dose rate of 25 mg/ kg) were given intramuscularly [39] (Table 5).…”