title: The normal electrocardiogram of the unanaesthetized competition "Spanish Pouler" pigeon (Columba livia gutturosa).
abstract: This investigation was carried out on 64 healthy adult competition pigeons (Spanish Poulers) to determine reference values of electrocardiographic parameters in standard lead II; a comparative study between males and females was also performed to find changes in the electrocardiographic patterns related to sex. P wave was positive and monophasic; PR segment depression was present in 64% of records; the QRS pattern obtained was in most cases of the rS type, followed by the QS configuration. ST slurring (absence of ST) was observed in 47% of records and the mean electrical axis was in all cases negative. Statistically significant differences related to sex were found for P-wave, R-wave and T-wave amplitudes, showing the males have greater amplitudes than females, associated with the increase of cardiac tissue mass. No sex-related differences were found in heart rate and mean electrical axis.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina y Cirugía Animal, Centro Universitario San Pablo CEU-Veterinaria, Moncada 46113, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Lopez Murcia
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Bernal
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Montes
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Garcia Martinez
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ayala
mesh_terms: D000758:Anesthesia / Q000662:veterinary; D000818:Animals; D010856:Columbidae / Q000502:physiology*; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D010805:Physical Conditioning, Animal; D012016:Reference Values