Comparison of Electrocardiograms of Hypertensive and Hypotensive Male Turkeys

Abstract

INTRODUCTION ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHY is recognized as a laboratory aid in diagnosing cardiovascular diseases. Electrocardiograms (ECG) reported for poultry have been primarily those of the chicken. The avian ECG as reported by Sturkie (1965) shows that the waves and complexes of lead I are of lower voltage than those of leads II and III, with S waves greater than R waves in all leads. METHODS Electrocardiograms were recorded from Broad White male turkeys 12 weeks of age. The populations of birds observed were the result of four generations of upward and downward blood pressure selection. Thirty turkeys were observed from each of the high and low blood pressure lines. Indirect systolic blood pressure measurements were recorded from these same poults at eight weeks of age by the method described by Krista et al. (1963). Comparison of indirect systolic blood pressure to central mean blood pressure by Krista et al. (1964) showed a…