Electrocardiogram Reference Values for the Buzzard in Spain

Abstract

Electrocardiographic reference values were established on apparently healthy buzzards (Buteo buteo) in Lugo (Spain) from March 1997 to June 1999. All birds were anesthetized with isofluorane and placed in dorsal recumbence. The standard and augmented unipolar limb leads electrocardiograms were recorded in 65 buzzards. The wave forms were analyzed in lead II at 50 mm/sec and at 1 cm ϭ 1 mV to determine P, PR, QRS, T and QT durations and P, QRS and T amplitudes. The polarity of each wave form was tabulated in all leads. The mean electrical axis (MEA) for the frontal plane was calculated using leads II and III. The mean heart rate was 325.2 Ϯ 52.9 beats/min. In lead II, the P wave was positive, the dominant pattern of QRS complex was QS and the T wave was always positive. The average value of the MEA was Ϫ99.2 Ϯ 7.7Њ. Establishment of normal electrocardiogram (EKG) values will facilitate a better understanding of EKG changes seen in many diseases of these birds.

Analysis of Electrocardiographic Parameters in the Conscious Common Pheasants (Phasianus colchicus)

“…Likewise, in lead aVR and aVL the most frequent morphologies were qR. Our findings were almost similar to results obtained in many studies [15][16][17]28,[30][31][32] .…”

“…These findings of T wave morphology were similar to those reported previously in various birds [16,17,[28][29][30][31]33] .…”

“…These results are confirmed by other ECG studies in birds [16,17,28,[31][32][33] . The mean values of duration and amplitude of QRS complexes were similar to those reported previously in buzzards [30] but higher than those reported in pigeons [13] .…”

“…The P waves were dominantly positive in all leads except for lead aVR and only in male pheasants it was biphasic in lead aVL. In this respect, there is compatibility between our results and those findings reported by many authors [16,17,[28][29][30] . On the other hand, Hassanpour et al found that the P waves were mainly positive in all leads in green peafowl [31] and in helmeted guinea fowl [32] .…”

“…Machida and Aohagi [33] reported that the P waves are generally biphasic in lead I and III, and positive in lead II. The amplitude of P wave in our study was higher than the value described by Uzun et al [28] and Hassanpour et al [31] ; lower than the value notified by Casares et al [15] and Lopez-Murcia et al [13] and, similar to the value reported by Espino et al [30] and Talavera et al [17] . The mean P wave durations in lead II were 0.03 and 0.03 sec in male and female pheasants, respectively, which was fairly similar to the values reported by many authors [13,15,17,28,30] .…”