Electrocardiogram assessment in non-anaesthetized clinically healthy agouti (Dasyprocta primnolopha, Wagler 1831)

Abstract

Pesq. Vet. Bras. 33(Supl.1):8-14, dezembro 2013 8 RESUMO.-[Avaliação do eletrocardiograma em cutias (Dasyprocta primnolopha, Wagler 1831) não-anestesiadas clinicamente saudáveis.] A cutia é uma das espé-cies mais intensamente caçados em toda a Amazônia e as regiões semi-áridas do nordeste do Brasil. Considerando--se a tendência atual no manejo de animais silvestres em cativeiro, o objetivo deste estudo foi determinar os valores de referência para o coração cutia criadas em cativeiro, com base em avaliações do eletrocardiograma (ECG). Foram selecionadas cutias adultas e sem sinais clínicos de doença cardíaca (n=30). Os animais foram contidos fisicamente e, em seguida, o ECG foi realizado. Medições padronizadas foram tomadas para estabelecer a análise estatística dos dados. Análise do complexo QRS apresentou valores compatíveis com os relatórios pregressos em animais animais de companhia, assim como para os poucos dados disponí-veis para outras espécies selvagens e exóticas, com exceção da onda T, que mostrou amplitude semelhante à onda R em The agouti is one of the most intensely hunted species throughout the Amazon and the semiarid regions of north-eastern Brazil. Considering the current tendency of wild animal management in captivity, the objective of this study was to determine heart reference values for agouti raised in captivity, based on electrocardiographic assessments (ECG). Adult agouti were selected without clinical signs of heart disease (n=30). The animals were restrained physically and then the ECG was performed. Standardized measurements were taken to establish the statistical analysis of the data. Analysis of the QRS complex showed values compatible with previous reports in peer animals and the limited data available for other wild and exotic species, except for the T wave that showed similar amplitude to the R wave in all the animals studied. The data obtained provided the first reference values for ECG tracings in agouti, contributing to a better understanding of heart electrophysiology in identifying myocardial pathology in these animals. Electrocardiogram assessment in non-anaesthetized clinically healthy agouti (Dasyprocta primnolopha, Wagler 1831) todos os animais estudados. Os dados obtidos permitiram a aquisição dos primeiros valores de referência para os traçados de ECG em cutias, contribuindo para uma melhor compreensão eletrofisiologia cardíaca, na identificação de miocardiopatia nesses animais.

Electrocardiographic exam in female spotted pacas (Cuniculus paca)

“…Nevertheless, the P wave amplitude was similar to that found in non-anesthetized ferrets, Brazilian agouti and chemical restrained cheetahs (Schumacher et al 2003, Dudás-Györki et al 2011, Diniz et al 2013). This wave duration and amplitude represent the atrial conduction (Tilley & Goodwin 2002) and the length increase observed in these animals and other mammal species under chemical restraint, it may be due to ketamine administration.…”

“…The P wave duration, PR, and QT intervals in pacas under chemical restraint were similar to that reported for capybaras (Szabuniewicz et al 1978) and other wild mammals using a similar restraint protocol (Schumacher et al 2003, Estrada et al 2009, Oda et al 2009), but were slightly larger than in Brazilian agouti, rabbits, ferrets and dogs under physical restraint (Szabuniew et al 1971, Tilley & Goodwin 2002, Dudás Györki et al 2011, Diniz et al 2013). Nevertheless, the P wave amplitude was similar to that found in non-anesthetized ferrets, Brazilian agouti and chemical restrained cheetahs (Schumacher et al 2003, Dudás-Györki et al 2011, Diniz et al 2013).…”

“…Heart rate obtained in the studied pacas was similar to described in cats, dogs, maned wolves, capybaras and cheetahs (Szabuniew et al 1978, Tilley 1992, Martin 2002, Schumacher et al 2003, Estrada et al 2009) higher than in Leopards (Oda et al 2009) and lower than in brazilian agouti (Diniz et al 2013). Although the capybara and brazilian agouti are phylogenetically closest to the paca (Ávila et al 2010), the heart rate of these species has a moderate variation.…”

“…The ECG tracing characteristics of spotted pacas in DII lead was similar to described for brazilian agouti, capybara, dogs, cats, ferrets, leopards, maned wolves, cheetahs and capuchin monkey (Szabuniewicz et al 1978, Martin 2002, Tilley & Goodwin 2002, Schumacher et al 2003, Estrada et al 2009, Oda et al 2009, Dudás Györki et al 2011, Larsson et al 2012, Diniz et al 2013, this ECG configuration indicate that the force of ventricular depolarisation spreaded principally to caudal and left side in front plane, due to positive R wave in DI, DII, DII and aVF, negative in aVR and small and variable in aVL leads, similar to described in ferrets (Dudás Györki et al 2011). Due to the DII lead characteristics this is considered the most widely used derivation for the rhythm, frequency, configuration, amplitude, and duration, cardiac waves analysis (Hurst & Meyerbur 1968), for this reason this derivation was presented as standard.…”

“…Although the capybara and brazilian agouti are phylogenetically closest to the paca (Ávila et al 2010), the heart rate of these species has a moderate variation. The mean values reported were 130 bpm in capybaras under chemical restraint (Szabuniew et al 1978), 182 bpm in Brazilian agouti under physical restraint (Diniz et al 2013) and 150 bpm in this study of spotted pacas. These differences can be attributed to the animals' size (40kg, 2.3 kg and 9 kg, respectively), since the body mass is inversely proportional to heart rate (Schmidt-Nielsen 1999).…”