Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
7th INTERNATIONAL ZEUGMA CONFERENCE ON SCIENTIFIC RESEARCHES, Gaziantep, Türkiye, 21 - 23 Ocak 2022, cilt.7, ss.42
Abstract
The horse's heart is one of the most efficient pumps among animals, and such a perfect
athlete is one of those who prefer to be admired. Although dressage is an equestrian sport,
no study has been found to describe the left ventricular (LV) function of competitive
dressage horses to date. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the LV functions
of dressage horses.
This study was performed on 20 clinically-hematologically healthy purebreds (Trahkehner,
Selle Français and Anglo-Arabian Horses) in dressage horses (4-10 years old, body weight
450-550 kg, mean 520 kg, both sexes) brought to the Animal Hospital (Bursa Uludag
University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Bursa). Horses who were clinically,
hematologically and electrocardiographically healthy (ECG, 3-channel bipolar extremity
lead, 50 mm/sec and 10 mm/mV) were included in the study; Horses with any
cardiorespiratory or systemic disorders were excluded. Clinical evaluation was performed
by the same veterinarian in a separate diagnostic imaging room. Conventional
echocardiography methods (2-D, M-mode and spectral Doppler; CarisPlus, Esoate, Italy)
and viewing windows (right parasternal short/long axis and left apical) were used for
cardiological examination in horses with a heart rate in the normal range (32±18 bpm).
Cardiac output (CO) and myocardial performance index (MPI-Tei index) were measured,
along with LV-related systolic and diastolic time intervals. Tei index was calculated from
PW Doppler currents of mitral and aortic flows. Statistically, the mean and standard errors
of the data were determined, and correlations with clinical (heart rate and body weight) and
echocardiographic values were examined (Pearson Correlation, SigmaStat). A value of
P>0.05 was considered statistically significant.
There was a negative correlation between Tei index and systolic (ejection time-ET), preejection
time-PEP) and mitral diastolic time intervals (mitral E/A) (P<0.01). Tei index was
not statistically correlated with fractional shortening (FS) and cardiac output.
Our results showed that the Tei Index value is a useful and independent echocardiographic
parameter to evaluate LV functions unaffected by heart rate and body weight. This pilot
study data obtained from healthy dressage horses; It has been concluded that it can be a
reference for those who have cardiac disease and will undergo echocardiography.
Keywords: Echocardiography, myocardial performance index, left ventricular function,
dressage, horse.