Kuo C, Chan I, Lai C. Comparative electrocardiographic study of the Asian freshwater box turtle
Cuora flavomarginata and the Asian yellow pond turtle
Mauremys mutica using non-invasive methods.
Vet Rec Open 2022;
9:e52. [PMID:
36514371 PMCID:
PMC9732382 DOI:
10.1002/vro2.52]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2022] [Revised: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background
Evaluation of cardiac function is an integral part of clinical examination of chelonians. However, information about electrocardiography (ECG) in turtles and tortoises is limited and fragmentary. Its application is limited due to the lack of ECG reference values. This study aimed to compare specific ECG parameters using non-invasive methods in the Asian box turtle Cuora flavomarginata (CF) and the Asian yellow pond turtle Mauremys mutica (MM).
Methods
We included 116 clinically healthy and conscious turtles. Two non-invasive methods, using adhesive patches or crocodile clips, for ECG were applied where possible. The ambient temperature was within the preferred optimum temperature zone of both species. We used specific digital ECG monitoring equipment to record the ECG data and analysed the data using specific software.
Results
The MM group showed better ECG quality and lower heart rate than the CF group. Comparing both methods, the adhesive patches method yielded higher ECG quality in the CF group, while the crocodile clips method yielded higher ECG quality in the MM group.
Conclusions
The study population was selected as presumed healthy turtles; the presence of systemic or cardiac disease could not be excluded completely due to limited investigation. Both ECG methods were clinically potentially useful for obtaining ECG parameters; the ECG quality was influenced by the method used.
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