title: PROPOSED SIMPLE METHOD FOR ELECTROCARDIOGRAM RECORDING IN FREE-RANGING ASIAN ELEPHANTS (ELEPHAS MAXIMUS).
abstract: Electrocardiography represents a relevant diagnostic tool for detecting cardiac disease in animals. Elephants can present various congenital and acquired cardiovascular diseases. However, few electrophysiologic studies have been reported in captive elephants, mainly due to challenging technical difficulties in obtaining good-quality electrocardiogram (ECG) tracings, and no data are currently available for free-ranging Asian elephants (Elephas maximus). The purpose of this pilot prospective study was to evaluate the feasibility of using a simple method for recording ECG tracings in wild, apparently healthy, unsedated Asian elephants (n = 7) in the standing position. Successful six-lead recordings (I, II, III, aVR, aVL, and aVF) were obtained, with the aVL lead providing the best-quality tracings in most animals. Variables measured in the aVL lead included heart rate, amplitudes and duration of the P waves, QRS complexes, T and U waves, and duration of the PR, QT, and QU intervals. A negative deflection following positive P waves, representative of an atrial repolarization wave (Ta wave), was observed for five out of the seven elephants.
authors.forename: Norin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Chai
authors.forename: Jean Louis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Pouchelon
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bouvard
authors.forename: Leonor Camacho
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Sillero
authors.forename: Minh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Huynh
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Segalini
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Point
authors.forename: Veronica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Croce
authors.forename: Goulven
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rigaux
authors.forename: Jack
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Highwood
authors.forename: Valérie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Chetboul
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000836:Animals, Zoo; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D004606:Elephants / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D012016:Reference Values
keywords: Asian elephant; Elephas maximus; Ta wave; U wave; electrocardiography; free-ranging