Observation on Spontaneously Occurring Arrhythmias in Racing Pigeons and Feral Pigeons

Masayuki KOBAYASHI; Yoko KASHIDA; Noboru MACHIDA; Keiji KIRYU

doi:10.11276/jsvc1984.31.26

Masayuki KOBAYASHI, Yoko KASHIDA, Noboru MACHIDA, Keiji KIRYU

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Keywords: arrhythmia, atrioventricular block, feral pigeon, racing pigeon

JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

1998 Volume 31 Issue 1 Pages 26-33

DOI https://doi.org/10.11276/jsvc1984.31.26

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Published: 1998 Received: - Available on J-STAGE: September 17, 2009 Accepted: July 14, 1998 Advance online publication: - Revised: -
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Date of correction: September 17, 2009 Reason for correction: - Correction: ABSTRACT Details: [in Japanese]

Date of correction: September 17, 2009 Reason for correction: - Correction: CITATION Details: Wrong : 2) Talan, D. A., Bauerferind, R. A., Ashley, W. W., Kanakis, C. and K. N. Rosen (1982) : Twenty-four hour continuous ECG recordings in long-distance runners. Chest, 82, 19-24.
5) Scheffer, C. W., Robbin, J. W. and M. M. Sloet van Oldruitenborgh-Oosterbaan (1995) : Continuous monitoring of ECG in horses at rest and during exercise. Vet. Rec., 137, 371-374.
6) Smetzer, D. L., Smith, C. R. and T. Senta (1969) : Second-degree atrioventricular block in the horse. Am. J. Vet. Res., 30, 933-946.
7) Zeppilli, P., Fenici, R., Sassrra, M., Pirranis, M. and G. Casselli (1980) : Wenckebach second-degree A-V block in top ranking athletes : an old problem revisited. Am. Heart I., 100, 281-294.
8) Yamaga, Y., Kubo, K., Amada, A. and K. Sato (1996) : Intrinsic atrioventricular conductive function in horses with a second degree atrioventricular block. J. Vet. Med. Sci., 59, 149-151.
9) Patterson, M. W. : Cardiac arrhythmias. In : Equine Cardiology, pp. 172-205, Black Science, Oxford, 1996.
11) Kubo, K., Senta, T. and O. Sugimoto (1974) : Relationship between training and heart in the
Thoroughbred racehorse. Exp. Rep. Equine Health Lab., 11, 87-93.
12) Kline, H. and J. H. Foreman (1991) : Heart and spleen weight as a function of breed and somatotype. Equine Exerc. Physiol., 3, 17-21.
13) Schneider, H. P., Truex, R. C. and J. O. Knowles (1964) : Comparative observations of the hearts of mongrel and Greyhound dogs. Anat. Rec., 149, 173-180.
14) Schoning, P., Erickson, H. and G. A. Milliken (1995) : Body weight, heart weight, and heart-tobody weight ratio in Greyhounds. Am. J. Vet. Res., 56, 420-422.
16) Lumeij, J. T. and A. A. Stokhof (1985) : Electrocardiogram in the racing pigeon (Columba livia domestica). Res. Vet. Sci., 38, 275-278.
17) Levi, W. M. : Breeds and varieties. In : The pigeon. pp. 37-238, Levi Publ., Sumter, South Carolina, 1986.
20) Johnston, R. F. and M. Janiga : Origin and evolution of feral pigeon ; Reproductive biology and diet ; Plumage and flight. In : Feral Pigeon. pp. 3-41 ; pp. 45-144 ; pp. 145-185, Oxford Univ. Press, New York, 1995.
21) Mukai, S., Machida, N., Nishimura, M., Nakamura, T., Amada, A. and K. Kiryu (1996) Electrocardiographic observation on spontaneously occurring arrhythmias in chickens. J. Vet. Med. Sci., 58, 953-961.
22) Detweiler, D. K. and D. F. Patterson : The cardiovascular system. In : Equine Medicine and Surgery (2nd ed.), Cacott, E. J. and J. F. Smithcors ed., pp. 277-347, Am. Vet. Publ., Wheaton, 1972.
23) Fregin, G. F. : The cardiovascular system. In : Equine Medicine and Surgery (3rd ed.), Vol. 1, Mansmann, R. A. and E. S. McAllister ed., pp-645-704, Am. Vet. Publ., Santa Barbara, 1982.
25) Kiryu, K., Kaneko, M. and H. Satoh (1977) : Cardiopathological observations on histopathogenesis of incomplete atrioventricular block in horses. Jpn.J. Vet. Sci., 39, 425-436.
26) Kiryu, K., Kaneko, M., Oikawa, M., Kanemaru, T., Yoshihara, T. and H. Satoh (1979) : Uniformity of cardiac lesions in incomplete atrioventricular block in the horse. Exp. Rep. Equine Health Lab., 16, 30-36.
27) Spörri, H. (1952) : Über die Genese and klinische Bedeutung des partiellen Herzblockes beim Pferd. Schvr eiz. Arch. Tierheilk., 94, 337-346.
28) Irvine, C. H. G. (1975) : Electrocardiographic anomalies in the racehorse. N. Z. Vet. J., 23, 262-269.
29) Lu, Y., James, T. N., Yamamoto, S. and F. Terasaki (1993) : Cardiac conduction system in the chicken : Gross anatomy plus light and electronmicroscopy. Anat. Rec., 236, 493-510.
30) Mathur, P. N. (1973) : Distribution of the specialized conducting tissue in the avian heart. Indian J. Zoo., 1, 17-27.
31) Szabo, E., Viragh, S. and C. E. Challice (1986) : The structure of the atrioventricular conducting system in the avian heart. Anat. Rec., 215, 1-9.

Right : 2) Talan, D. A., Bauerferind, R. A., Ashley, W. W., Kanakis, C. and K. N. Rosen (1982) : Twentyfour hour continuous ECG recordings in long-distance runners. Chest, 82, 19-24.
5) Scheffer, C. W., Robbin, J. W. and M. M. Sloet van Oldruitenborgh-Oosterbaan (1995) : Continuous monitoring of ECG in horses at rest and during exercise. Vet. Rec., 137, 371-374.
6) Smetzer, D. L., Smith, C. R. and T. Senta (1969) : Second-degree atrioventricular block in the horse. Am. J. Vet. Res., 30, 933-946.
7) Zeppilli, P., Fenici, R., Sassrra, M., Pirranis, M. and G. Casselli (1980) : Wenckebach second-degree A-V block in top ranking athletes : an old problem revisited. Am. Heart J., 100, 281-294.
8) Yamaga, Y., Kubo, K., Amada, A. and K. Sato (1996) : Intrinsic atrioventricular conductive function in horses with a second degree atrioventricular block. J. Vet. Med. Sci., 59, 149-151.
9) Patterson, M. W. : Cardiac arrhythmias. In : Equine Cardiology, pp. 172-205, Black Science, Oxford, 1996.
11) Kubo, K., Senta, T. and O. Sugimoto (1974) : Relationship between training and heart in the Thoroughbred racehorse. Exp. Rep. Equine Health Lab., 11, 87-93.
12) Kline, H. and J. H. Foreman (1991) : Heart and spleen weight as a function of breed and somatotype. Equine Exerc. Physiol., 3, 17-21.
13) Schneider, H. P., Truex, R. C. and J. O. Knowles (1964) : Comparative observations of the hearts of mongrel and Greyhound dogs. Anat. Rec., 149, 173-180.
14) Schoning, P., Erickson, H. and G. A. Milliken (1995) : Body weight, heart weight, and heart-to-body weight ratio in Greyhounds. Am. J. Vet. Res., 56, 420-422.
16) Lumeij, J. T. and A. A. Stokhof (1985) : Electrocardiogram in the racing pigeon (Columba livia domestica). Res. Vet. Sci., 38, 275-278.
17) Levi, W. M. : Breeds and varieties. In : The pigeon. pp. 37-238, Levi Publ., Sumter, South Carolina, 1986.
20) Johnston, R. F. and M. Janiga : Origin and evolution of feral pigeon ; Reproductive biology and diet ; Plumage and flight. In : Feral Pigeon. pp. 3-41 ; pp. 45-144 ; pp. 145-185, Oxford Univ. Press, New York, 1995.
21) Mukai, S., Machida, N., Nishimura, M., Nakamura, T., Amada, A. and K. Kiryu (1996) Electrocardiographic observation on spontaneously occurring arrhythmias in chickens. J. Vet. Med. Sci., 58, 953-961.
22) Detweiler, D. K. and D. F. Patterson : The cardiovascular system. In : Equine Medicine and Surgery (2nd ed.), Cacott, E. J. and J. F. Smithcors ed., pp. 277-347, Am. Vet. Publ., Wheaton, 1972.
23) Fregin, G. F. : The cardiovascular system. In : Equine Medicine and Surgery (3rd ed.), Vol. 1, Mansmann, R. A. and E. S. McAllister ed., pp-645-704, Am. Vet. Publ., Santa Barbara, 1982.
25) Kiryu, K., Kaneko, M. and H. Satoh (1977) : Cardiopathological observations on histopathogenesis of incomplete atrioventricular block in horses. Jpn.J. Vet. Sci., 39, 425-436.
26) Kiryu, K., Kaneko, M., Oikawa, M., Kanemaru, T., Yoshihara, T. and H. Satoh (1979) : Uniformity of cardiac lesions in incomplete atrioventricular block in the horse. Exp. Rep. Equine Health Lab., 16, 30-36.
27) Spörri, H. (1952) : Über die Genese and klinische Bedeutung des partiellen Herzblockes beim Pferd. Schvr eiz. Arch. Tierheilk., 94, 337-346.
28) Irvine, C. H. G. (1975) : Electrocardiographic anomalies in the racehorse. N. Z. Vet. J., 23, 262-269.
29) Lu, Y., James, T. N., Yamamoto, S. and F. Terasaki (1993) : Cardiac conduction system in the chicken : Gross anatomy plus light and electronmicroscopy. Anat. Rec., 236, 493-510.
30) Mathur, P. N. (1973) : Distribution of the specialized conducting tissue in the avian heart. Indian J. Zoo., 1, 17-27.
31) Szabo, E., Viragh, S. and C. E. Challice (1986) : The structure of the atrioventricular conducting system in the avian heart. Anat. Rec., 215, 1-9.

Abstract

In order to examine the spontaneous occurrence of arrhythmias in 2 groups consisting of 18 racing pigeons and 48 feral pigeons, electrocardiograms using standard bipolar limb leads ( I, II and III) were recorded in both the groups of pigeons at rest. The racing pigeons showed a significantly higher incidence of arrhythmias than the feral pigeons (racing=100% ; feral=50.0% ; p<0.001). The incidence of every one of such arrhythmias in the racing, revealed sinus arrhythmia (SA) in 18 (100%), sinoatrial block or sinus arrest (SAB/SAT) in 11 (61.1%), second-degree atrioventricular block (2°AVB) Mobitz type I (Wenckebach type) in 6 (33.3%), and ventricular premature contraction in 3 (16.7%). The feral revealed SA in 12 (25.0%), SAB/SAT in 12 (25.0%), and 2°AVB Mobitz type I in 1 (2.1%) and Mobitz type II in 4 (8.3%). The present results showing differences of incidence of arrhythmias in the 2 groups of pigeons, suggest that the racing pigeon may be not only a relevant animal for studying arrhythmias related to the athletic heart but may be useful in correspondence with equine cardiology.

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