A study of electrocardiographic patterns in a population of commercial broiler chickens.

摘要

Electrocardiographic (ECG) data were collected from 300 male commercial Hubbard broilers reared at an altitude of approximately 350 m above sea level. ECG readings were collected from all birds when between 12 and 15 days of age and then twice moreat 10-day intervals. Eight birds died from sudden death syndrome (SDS) and 4 birds died from ascites. 12 birds were condemned for ascites at the processing plant. The mean heart rate, 385?6, at the first recording, declined with age to 364?4 beats permin at the third. Birds that died of SDS had a higher heart rate, whereas those that developed ascites had a lower heart rate than the remainder of the population. The normal mean electrical axis was between 0?and 180? On average 30% of birds showed left or right QRS axis deviation. This pattern was observed in 14 of the 16 birds that developed ascites. Several types of cardiac arrhythmias were observed, the most common being premature ventricular contractions (PVC). The incidence of PVC increased with age, ranging from 1% at 12 to 15 days of age to 8.9% at 32 to 35 days of age. QRS axis deviation was present in 5 SDS birds. It is concluded that approximately 30% of the broiler flock tested was at risk of developing heart failure or heart-related disease.