Electrocardiographic parameters in clinically healthy Balouchi sheep

Abstract

Electrocardiographic (ECG) parameters and cardiac rhythms have been evaluated and published<br><br>in different breeds of beef and dairy cattle but there is limited information regarding these<br><br>parameters in healthy sheep. This study is aimed to investigate the ECG parameters in Balouchi<br><br>sheep. The ECG parameters including the amplitudes of P, Q, R, S and T waves, duration of P, QRS<br><br>and T waves and P-R, Q-T and R-R intervals were evaluated in 44 male and female clinically<br><br>healthy Balouchi sheep in standard and augmented limb leads (I, II, III, AVR, AVL, and AVF) and<br><br>base-apex lead. The mean heart rate was 89.6 beats/minute which had a significant correlation with<br><br>age (r=-0.269, p=0.014). Different configurations of P-wave, QRS complex and T wave were<br><br>observed in different ECG leads. It was found that age and gender affects some ECG parameters. In<br><br>some leads, rams had significantly higher amplitudes of P, Q, R, S and T waves and longer duration<br><br>of PRR interval than ewes. Also in some leads, the amplitudes of P, R and S waves were<br><br>significantly higher and the duration of QRS complex was shorter in sheep less than one year old<br><br>than sheep with age three years or older. The most common cardiac dysrhythmia observed on the<br><br>ECG traces was Sinus arrhythmia. Sheep with this dysrhythmia had a significantly lower heart rate<br><br>(p&lt;0.05). Also, it was concluded that the base-apex lead was the most suitable lead for ECG<br><br>evaluation in sheep.