Electrocardiographic findings in naturally acquired chagasic heart disease in nonhuman primates.
The significance of electrocardiographic (ECG) changes described in animals with Chagas' disease is questionable in view that other non-invasive comparisons have been lacking. 12-lead ECG and two-dimensional echocardiography (echo) was performed in 17 seropositive and 13 seronegative baboons. Similar to humans, a wide variety of ECG outcomes were observed in the infected animals. Standard ECG measurements were not different between groups. Five seropositive (29%) and 3 seronegative (23%) animals had low voltage; 4 seropositives (24%) and 2 (15%) seronegatives had tall P-waves. Precordial Q waves were seen in 10 seropositives (59%) and in 7 (54%) seronegatives without septal abnormalities on two-dimensional echo. One seropositive animal had a 2(nd) degree (Wenckebach) AV block and left anterior fascicular block. Most animals in both groups had diffuse T-wave abnormalities. Echo evidence of systolic dysfunction was found in 4 seropositives and in none of the controls; thus, chagasic heart disease was present in 24% of naturally infected baboons. Since most non-human primates, irrespective of their serology, have diffuse, nonspecific ECG changes not necessarily diagnostic of myocardial disease, two-dimensional echo should be added to their non-invasive assessment.
Zabalgoitia
Miguel
M
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229-3900, USA. Zabalgoitia@uthscsa.edu
Ventura
Jaime
J
Anderson
Lori
L
Williams
Jeff T
JT
Carey
K D
KD
Vandeberg
John L
JL
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D014355:Chagas Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000662:veterinary*; D004452:Echocardiography; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008992:Monkey Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010215:Papio