ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT Background: Cardiovascular parameters may vary between breeds and physiological stages, hindering the cardiovascular evaluation in horses. Objective: Standardize electrocardiographic (ECG) and arterial pressure (AP) parameters in creole horses from the Bogota Savannah. Methods: 100 male and female horses were evaluated, divided into four groups (n=25 each) according to age: group 1 (G1), between 6 months and 1 year old; group 2 (G2), between 1 and 4 years old; group 3 (G3), between 4 and 10 years old; and group 4 (G4), over 10 years old. Bipolar, unipolar and precordial leads in ECG, as well as systolic AP (SAP), mean AP (MAP), and diastolic AP (DAP) were evaluated in all groups. Results: 99 animals showed sinus rhythm, among which one female from G2 and one from G4 exhibited left fascicles anterior block; a female from G3 had sinus arrhythmia and one female from G2 evidenced 3 premature ventricular complexes. The presence of a unique and positive P wave, a QRS complex of the QR type and a biphasic T wave, were the most common in all groups. A significant decrease in the cardiac axis was observed in G1 when compared to the other groups. The G1 group showed a significant increase in heart rate, SAP, MAP and DAP values. Conclusions: Taking into account the environmental conditions and how the investigation was developed, it is possible to conclude that creole horses from the Bogotá Savannah differ in their cardiovascular parameters in relation to age.
RESUMEN Antecedentes: Los parámetros cardiovasculares en los caballos pueden variar entre razas y etapas fisiológicas, lo que dificulta la evaluación cardiaca. Objetivo: Estandarizar parámetros electrocardiográficos (ECG) y de presión arterial (PA) en caballos criollos de la Sabana de Bogotá. Métodos: Fueron estudiados 100 caballos entre machos y hembras divididos en cuatro grupos de acuerdo con su edad (n=25): grupo 1 (G1), entre 6 meses y 1 año de edad; grupo 2 (G2), entre 1 y 4 años; grupo 3 (G3), entre 4 y 10 años, y grupo 4 (G4), mayores de 10 años. Se evaluaron derivaciones bipolares, unipolares y precordiales en ECG, así como en PA Sistólica (PAS), PA Media (PAM), y PA Diastólica (PAD) en todos los grupos. Resultados: 99 animales mostraron ritmo sinusal, entre los cuales se observó bloqueo anterior del fascículo izquierdo en una hembra del G2 y en una del G4; a su vez, una hembra del G3 presentó arritmia sinusal y en una del G2 se evidenciaron tres complejos ventriculares prematuros. La presencia de una onda P única y positiva, complejo QRS tipo QR y onda T bifásica fueron los más observados en todos los grupos. Una disminución significativa del eje cardiaco se observó en el G1 cuando se comparó con los demás grupos; además, el G1 presentó aumento significativo en valores de frecuencia cardiaca, PAS, PAM y PAD. Conclusiones: Teniendo en cuenta las condiciones del medio y la forma en que la investigación se ejecutó, es posible concluir que los parámetros cardiovasculares de caballos criollos de la Sabana de Bogotá difieren con relación a su edad.
ABSTRACT
The objective of this study was to evaluate various malaria rapid diagnostic tests as a tool in the detection of P. falciparum and non-P. falciparum infections in field conditions. Four field surveys were conducted in malaria-endemic areas of Palawan and Davao del Norte, Philippines to validate the various rapid diagnostic tests, namely Diamed OptiMAL 48 (DiaMed AG, Switzerland), ParaHIT f (Span Diagnostics, India), Orchid OptiMAL, and Paracheck Pf (both from Orchid Biomedical Systems, India). The results of the various rapid diagnostic tests were compared to those of microscopy. Sensitivity, specificity and detection rates according to the level of parasitemia were used as parameters to describe the performance of the various rapid diagnostic tests in the field. Practical and operational assessments were also done. The results of the study show that the sensitivity and detection rates were generally lower than previously reported, with sensitivities ranging from 4.8% to 20.6%, except for Diamed OptiMAL 48, which had sensitivities of 78.8% to 96.8%, and detection rates of 50.0% to 96.8%. The rest had detection rates ranging from 0.0% to 50.0%. All the specificities ranged from 18.2% to 100.0%. Improper conditions at the time of manufacturing, storage, transport, and utilization may affect the validity of the results. Rapid diagnostic tests for malaria provide practical means of detecting malarial infections, especially in endemic areas. However, issues regarding variability in performance must to be addressed before they can be used as mainstream diagnostic tools.