No abstract

Electrocardiography (ECG) is a main diagnostic tool for diagnostics of rhythm disturbances. Since most pathological arrhythmias are only visible during movement and exercises the registration of exercising ECG becomes a mandatory diagnostic tool for monitoring of high-performance horses. Portable ECG monitor, developed together with specialists of National Technical University of Ukraine “Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute” is an electrocardiograph with telemetric data transmission system and four electrodes providing six-lead real-time ECG  recordings at rest and during exercise. The objective of current study was validation of portable ECG monitor for diagnostics of arrhythmias in horses compared to a standard electrocardiograph. With this aim the ECG was performed by both devices simultaneously on animals with normal rhythm and rhythm disturbances. The ECG traces were therefore analyzed and compared. 14 horses of Ukrainian riding, Friesian, and Arabian breeds were divided in two groups: experimental one with arrhythmias, and control one with normal rhythm. ECG was performed by both devices simultaneously during rest, exercise, and post-exercise period. Electrocardiographic parameters were measured manually using on-screen calipers. Obtained data was analyzed using GraphPad Prism software by linear regression method for continuous parameters (HR, duration of QRS complex, PR, and QT intervals, and amplitude of P and S waves). For nominal parameters (rhythm, excitability, and conduction disorders) the analysis of sensitivity and specificity was performed. A total of 196 ECG records were analysed. Electrocardiographic intervals had high correlation: for HR and PR interval the correlation coefficient amounted to 0.98, for QRS complex and QT interval – to 0.97, for P and S waves – to 0.96. Among detected rhythm disturbances were physiological (second degree AV block first Mobitz type and SA block) and pathological arrhythmias (SVT and SVPCs). The sensitivity and specificity for rhythm, excitability, and conduction disorders of the portable ECG monitor compared to a standard electrocardiograph was 100 %. The portable ECG monitor allows to easily perform ECG registration during rest and exercises and to detect arrhythmias and other ECG abnormalities with accuracy, compared to a standard electrocardiograph.

The influence of medication “Membranostabil” on the indexes of content of proteins with MM of 33, 40, and 47 kDa in the plasmolemma of enterocytes of jejunum of new-born calves during the period from birth till the age of 24-hours was investigated. The research was conducted on calves (males) of Ukrainian black-and-white breed during the spring. Throughout the trial period, the calves of the control and experimental groups were kept on a standard diet for newborn calves, colostrum. In addition, calves of the experimental group got the medication “Membranostabil” based on the soybean lecithin. Proteins of plasmolemma of enterocytes of the jejunum of calves were isolated from the membrane fraction of lysates and examined by electrophoresis. Electrophoretic separation of proteins of plasmolemma of the jejunum enterocytes of newborn calves revealed proteins with MM of 37, 40 and 43 kDa on electrophoregram. The data of expression of immunoreceptor proteins with MM of 37, 40, 43 kDa and the dynamics of their changes depending on the time after birth in calves of the control and experimental groups were analyzed. The decrease in the total content of expression of proteins with MM of 37, 40, and 43 kDa in the membrane fraction of lysates of enterocytes of the jejunum of calves at the age of 6 hours compared to the newborn ones was demonstrated. The levels of expression of each immunoreceptor protein are considered with their comparative analysis between the individual fractions in the cytolemma of the enterocytes of the jejunum of newborn calves, which according to their molecular weights correspond to MM isoforms of FcγRIII/CD32. The data obtained showed a significantly higher expression of level of proteins with molecular mass of 37 kDa on the apical membrane of enterocytes, compared with proteins with MM of 40 and 43 kDa, both at birth of calves and at the age of 6 and 24 hours. Based on the data obtained, proteins with MM of 37, 40, and 43 kDa of plasmolemma of the jejunum enterocytes undergo significant changes in the process of postnatal ontogeny in cattle. These changes indicate the synthesis of these proteins in the enterocytes themselves in the process of formation of colostral immunity in newborn calves under the influence of the medication “Membranostabil” used by this research group, compared with calves of the control group. It is shown that the application of medication “Membranostabil” for the new-born calves activates the transport of immunoglobulins of colostrum in the intestine of these animals, assists the increasing of level of colostral immunity, and prevents the occurrence of digestive disorders. Findings of this research correlate with the results of clinical observation in newborn calves.

Анотація. Досліджені показники вмісту макро-і мікроелементів у молозиві першого удою корів після застосування їм в останні 45 діб сухостою комплексного мінерального препарату «Стимтел». Дослідження проведені на двох групах корів (контрольна та дослідна) української чорно-рябої молочної породи з відбором у них зразків молозива першого удою і визначенням вмісту макро-і мікроелементів методом спектрофотометрії. Застосування сухостійним коровам препарату «Стимтел» достовірно підвищує вміст Магнію, Натрію, Калію, Цинку та Купруму в молозиві першого удою. Проведений аналіз літературних джерел щодо дефіциту макро-і мікроелементів у молозиві корів, його впливу на ріст, розвиток та імунний статус новонароджених телят. Застосування коровам у період сухостою препарату «Стимтел» дозволяє зробити припущення щодо позитивного впливу застосованих нами в його складі мінералів на обмін речовин в організмі телят, як у період внутрішньоутробного, так і в період постнатального розвитку телят. Корови, яким застосовували препарат «Стимтел» були краще забезпечені мінеральними речовинами необхідними для росту і розвитку плоду результатом чого є народження більш розвинутих, з більшою масою тіла і кращим клінічним статусом телят порівняно з телятами, що були отримані від корів контрольної групи.

Electrocardiographic reference values of clinically healthy horses are needed for assessment of the reduced performance or cardiac pathology animals. The purpose of this study was to establish the rate of occurrence of arrhythmias in clinically healthy horses of the Ukrainian riding breed at rest, during exercises, and the recovery period. The experimental group of animals included 36 horses of age 3-17 years, 16 mares (adult female horses), 11 geldings (castrated males), and 9 stallions (adult males). The electrodes were placed with a modified base-apex system on the surface of animals' bodies. ECG recording was performed at rest (15 minutes), during exercises and the recovery period for 30-40 and 15 minutes, respec vely. Prevalence and frequency of occurrence of arrhythmias were analysed with obtained recordings. A significant number of the second-degree atrioventricular blocks were detected in 13.9% cases (n = 5) during the recovery period. 33.3% (n = 2), 8.3% (n = 3), and 19.4% (n = 7) of cases of supraventricular premature contrac ons were detected during exercises, at rest, and during the recovery period, respec vely. The incidence of supraventricular premature contrac ons was < 3/animal and < 5/animal during exercises, and recovery period, respec vely; with the excep on of one animal in which 9 and 7 premature contrac ons were detected, respec vely. Ventricular premature contrac ons were iden fied in 2.7% (n = 1) and 5.6% (n = 2) cases, at rest and exercises, respec vely. Supraventricular tachycardia with 6-9 consecu ve premature contrac ons during trot was detected in 1 horse (2.7%). The results of this study have confirmed the presence of arrhythmias in clinically healthy horses. The type of arrhythmias significantly depends on the period (rest, exercises, and recovery) of the animal's ac vity, par cularly.