Abstract
To investigate the relationships between trace elements concentrations in hair and atrial fibrillation (AF) in horses, concentrations of nineteen trace elements were detected in hair using the particle induced X-ray emission (PIXE) method. The horses were assigned to either control (n=22, no abnormalities) or AF groups (n=5) based on electrocardiograph findings. The mean concentrations of Ca and Zn in the hair of the AF group were significantly higher than those in the control group. The Zn/Cu ratio of the hair in the AF group (29.8 ± 5.5) was significantly higher than that in the control group (23.4 ± 2.2, P<0.05). The results of the present study suggest that there is a relationship between elevated concentrations of Ca and Zn in hair and AF.
