ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHIC PARAMETERS IN HEALTHY BALKAN DONKEYS (EQUUS ASINUS) IN BULGARIA

Abstract

The Balkan donkey is a traditional autochthonous breed, bred for centuries in the rural areas of Balkan Peninsula countries. The information on electrocardiographic parameters in clinically healthy Balkan donkeys in Bulgaria is limited. The study was performed with 16 clinically healthy animals (10 females and 6 males), from 18 months to 30 years of age and weighing 220-290 kg. The standard resting horse base-apex lead system was used. The average heart rate was 43 beats/min. The P wave in all donkeys was notched, with a duration of 0.083 sec. and an average amplitude for P1 - 0.108 mV, and for P2 - 0.183 mV. The duration of the RR interval was 1.427 seconds, and that of the PR interval: 0.242 sec. Two configuration forms of the QRS complex were present - QS (31.25%) and rS (68.75%) with average duration of 0.087 sec. The T wave configuration in 81.2% of the animals was biphasic and in 3 of them (18.8%) was only positive. No cardiac arrhythmias were registered in the study. Additional electrocardiographic studies are needed in order to establish reference values specific to the Balkan donkeys in Bulgaria.