Banat's University of agricultural
sciences and veterinary medicine
"King michael i of romania"
from timisoara.
Lucr. Ştiintifice Med. Vet.
Vol. xlvii (4), 2014. p. 14-19.
Vol. xlvii (4), 2014. p. 14-19.
Electrocardiographic
parameters
in new - born
calves (172 cases)
BRĂSLAŞU ELENA DANIELA, SILVIA JOIŢA, SIMIZ FL.*, BRĂSLAŞU M.C.
1University
of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest, Faculty of
Veterinary Medicine, Splaiul Independentei, no. 105, Bucharest, Romania, Post
Code 050097, cbraslasu@yahoo.com
Banat’s University of
Agricultural Science and Veterinary Medicine Timisoara, Faculty of Veterinary
Medicine, 300645, Calea Aradului, no 119, Timisoara, Romania
Summary
172 new - born
calves with ages between 1 hour-3-4 weeks have been investigated. The calves
were clinically healthy. The examination was realized in standing position and
the ECG parameters were: a milivolte amplitude of 10 mm, a rate of ECG tract
rolling of 25 mm/sec, unipolar and bipolar legs derivations. The length of ECG
component parts (sec): P wave = 0.05±0.013; P-R interval = 0.12±0.027; QRS
complex = 0.047±0.012; QT interval = 0.250±0.051; T wave = 0.079±0.016; R-R
interval = 0.525±0.015; P-T interval = 0.376±0.074; T-P segment = 0.147±0.1 and
cardiac frequency electrocardiographically calculated based on R-R interval was
123.15±33.6. The amplitude of ECG waves in new born calves in D2
derivation is: P wave=0.154±0.072 mV; ventricular complex = 0.910±0.485 mV; T
wave = 0,410±0,244 mV. The values of electric axes are: P wave = 50.02±29.69°;
ventricular complex = -95.77±38.67° and T wave= 77.42±30.28°.
Our conclusions
were: estimation of ECG values in new born calves is very useful, considering
the diverse pathology in this specie at this specific age: cardiomyopathies
consecutive to a selenium deficiency, congenital heart malformations and
others.
Key words: calves, new-born,
electrocardiogram, standard leads.
Electrocardiography
is a very important method for the diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases (6). The study of electrocardiographic parameters in this specie is useful as
cardiovascular diseases (heart congenital defects, cardiomyopathy produced by
tocopherol deficiency – selenic cardiomyopathy, pericarditis s.a.) also influence
the calves (2).
Materials and
methods
172 new born calves have been evaluated. They
were healthy individuals, aged several hours to 14 days. Animals have been
examined awake and in standing position.
The examination
has been done with an electrocardiograph
Nihon-Kohden – Cardiofax. The working parameters were: amplitude 1Mv =
10mm (5 and 20mm) and the speed of the rolling paper 25-50mm/sec.
Bipolar and
unipolar limbs leads were used.
The next
statistical values were estimated:
- arithmetic mean
- standard deviation
- variance
- error of the mean
- variability ratio (%)
Results and discussions
There are a few bibliographical data on characteristic
electrocardiographic values in calves. These available data show only the length of ECG components. There
are only a few data available on values of ECG wave amplitude. This fact is due
to the lack of a standard system of derivation, but also to a cardiac and
non-cardiac pathology (electrolyte disturbances,
lack of acid base balance), which can
influence the amplitude of ECG waves (1, 4).
All these factors can modify the amplitude of ECG waves, as
there is a large variability of statistical values (variance and variability index)
The estimation of ECG parameters length has been done
mainly in D2 lead, because in this lead the amplitude of the ECG wave is the
highest and therefore can be easily examined.
The estimation of ECG waves amplitude has been realized in
all 6 standard leads (3, 5).
As a first remark, calves electrocardiogram is included in
B electrocardiographic group or the equine type: ventricular complex is in an
opposite plan to P and T wave (figure 1)(3, 5).
Values of ECG waves amplitude in new born calves are
included in tables 1-3.
Values of ECG components
length are included in table 4 and values of electric axis of ECG waves
in table 5.
Figure
1
Electrocardiogram
aspect in new born calves
Table 1
P wave amplitude values in new born calves
P wave amplitude
mV
|
|||||
n.
|
Arithmetic mean
|
Standard deviation
|
Variance
|
Variability ratio
|
|
D1
|
122
|
0.146
|
0.079
|
0.006
|
54.10
|
D2
|
148
|
0.154
|
0.072
|
0.005
|
46.75
|
D3
|
142
|
0.089
|
0.070
|
0.004
|
78.65
|
aVR
|
132
|
0.139
|
0.069
|
0.004
|
49.64
|
aVL
|
124
|
0.084
|
0.068
|
0.004
|
80.95
|
aVF
|
140
|
0.094
|
0.090
|
0.008
|
95.74
|
Table 2
Ventricular complex amplitude values in new born calves
Amplitude of
ventricular complex
mV
|
|||||
n.
|
Arithmetic mean
|
Standard deviation
|
Variance
|
Variability ratio
|
|
D1
|
140
|
0.626
|
0.384
|
0.147
|
61.34
|
D2
|
157
|
0.910
|
0.485
|
0.901
|
53.29
|
D3
|
154
|
0.874
|
0.484
|
0.234
|
55.37
|
aVR
|
147
|
0.612
|
0.416
|
0.173
|
67.97
|
aVL
|
142
|
0.618
|
0.342
|
0.117
|
55.33
|
aVF
|
151
|
0.832
|
0.451
|
0.203
|
54.20
|
Table 3
T wave amplitude
T wave amplitude
mV
|
|||||
n.
|
Arithmetic mean
|
Standard deviation
|
Variance
|
Variability ratio
|
|
D1
|
126
|
0.225
|
0.196
|
0.038
|
87.11
|
D2
|
155
|
0.410
|
0.244
|
0.059
|
59.51
|
D3
|
147
|
0.327
|
0.227
|
0.051
|
69.41
|
aVR
|
141
|
0.270
|
0.184
|
0.034
|
68.14
|
aVL
|
133
|
0.204
|
0.157
|
0.024
|
76.96
|
aVF
|
148
|
0.339
|
0.204
|
0.041
|
60.17
|
Table 4
ECG components length (I.)
ECG components length (sec.)
|
|||||
P
|
P-R
|
QRS
|
Q-T
|
T
|
|
n.
|
165
|
166
|
170
|
169
|
169
|
Arithmetic mean
|
0.05
|
0.12
|
0.047
|
0.25
|
0.079
|
Standard deviation
|
0.013
|
0.027
|
0.012
|
0.051
|
0.016
|
Variance
|
0.0001
|
0.0007
|
0.0001
|
0.002
|
0.0002
|
Variability ratio
|
26
|
22.5
|
25.53
|
20.4
|
20.25
|
ECG components length (II.)
R-R
|
P-T
|
TP
|
F.C.
|
|
n.
|
167
|
164
|
164
|
167
|
Arithmetic mean
|
0.525
|
0.376
|
0.147
|
123.15
|
Standard deviation
|
0.150
|
0.074
|
0.100
|
33.607
|
Variance
|
0.022
|
0.005
|
0.010
|
1129.5
|
Variability ratio
|
28.57
|
19.68
|
68.02
|
27.28
|
Table 5
Value of electric axis (0)
Value of electric axis of ECG wave(0)
|
|||||
n.
|
Arithmetic mean
|
Standard deviation
|
Variance
|
Variability ratio
|
|
P wave
|
145
|
50.02
|
29.69
|
882.04
|
59.35
|
QRS
|
143
|
- 95.77
|
38.67
|
1485.47
|
40.37
|
T wave
|
148
|
77.42
|
30.28
|
917.41
|
39.11
|
Remarks on statistical data
A. Amplitude of ECG wave
P wave is the representation of atrial electric
activity and P wave amplitude is in most of the situations low. P waves had a
monophasic aspect, on the same side with T wave.
Ventricular complex is on the opposite side to P and T
waves (B electrocardiographic group) and the highest amplitude is seen in D2
lead.
As mentioned before, there are a lot of physiological
and pathological factors (without any clinical signs) that modify the amplitude
of ECG waves. As an example of phisiological factors there is the stress
induced increase of ventricular contraction strength that can increase the
amplitude of ventricular complex.
There is also an
evidence in this specie and at this age that a head deviation towards the left
or the right side can cause significant changes of ECG waves amplitude in
different leads. These are physiological changes as they are produced by
compression of carotidian sinus.
All these factors are increasing the statistic index
regarding variability and variability ratio
B. The length of ECG components
The estimation of ECG components has a particular
importance as the significance is as it follows:
P wave = atrial depolarisation
P-T = atrial systole
QRS = ventricular depolarization
Q-T = ventricular systole
R-R = length of a cardiac cycle, used to estimate
cardiac frequency
TP = general diastole
P-T = general electric activity (atrial and
ventricular systole)
Statistical index are homogenous, excepting TP
segment, RR interval and cardiac frequency. The index above are influenced by
different physiological and/or pathological factors (without clinical signs in
these situations).
C. Cardiac electric axis
Cardiac electric axis is positive for P and T wave and
negative for ventricular complex. There is an increased variability of these
index following the variability of ECG wave amplitude.
Conclusions
Electrocardiogram is one of the main methods to
evaluate the heart in animal species. It is used to study arrhythmia, changes
of cardiac cavities volume and indirect information of acid base imbalance or electrolytic
imbalance.
New born calves electrocardiogram is included in B
electrocardiographic group, with a
ventricular complex on an opposite side to P and T wave.
We used the next parameters: the milivolt amplitude
=10 mm and the speed of rolling paper 25 or 50mm/sec. We used legs leads
(derivations)
The length of ECG component parts (sec): P wave = 0.05±0.0001; P-R
interval = 0.12±0.0007; QRS complex = 0.047±0.0001; QT interval = 0.250±0.002;
T wave = 0.079±0.0002; R-R interval = 0.525±0.022; P-T interval = 0.376±0.005;
T-P segment = 0.147±0.01 and cardiac frequency electrocardiographically
calculated based on R-R interval was 123.15±1129.49.
The amplitude of ECG waves in new born calves in D2
derivation is: P wave = 0.154±0.005 mV; ventricular complex = 0.910±0.235 mV; T
wave = 0,410±0,059 mV.
The values of electric axes are: P wave = 50.02°; ventricular complex =
-95.77° and T wave = 77.42°.
Our conclusions were: estimation of ECG values in new born calves is
very useful, considering the diverse pathology in this
specie at this specific age: cardiomyopathies consecutive to a selenium
deficiency, congenital heart malformations and others.
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