Evaluation of heart rate variability and behavior of electrocardiographic parameters in dogs affected by chronic Monocytic Ehrlichiosis

Author(s)

Filippi, Mauricio Gianfranchesco ^[1] ; Ferreira Lima, Mayra de Castro ^[2] ; Paes, Antonio Carlos ^[2] ; Cruz Aleixo, Amanda Satita ^[1] ; Oba, Eunice ^[3] ; de Souza, Fabiana Ferreira ^[3] ; Takahira, Regina Kiomi ^[1] ; Gomes Lourenco, Maria Lucia ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Sao Paulo State Univ Unesp, Dept Vet Clin, Sch Vet Med & Anim Sci, Botucatu, SP - Brazil

^[2] Sao Paulo State Univ UNESP, Sch Vet Med & Anim Sci, Dept Vet Hyg & Publ Hlth, Botucatu, SP - Brazil

^[3] Sao Paulo State Univ Unesp, Dept Anim Reprod & Vet Radiol, Sch Vet Med & Anim Sci, Botucatu, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: PLoS One; v. 14, n. 5 MAY 24 2019.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Canine Monocytic Ehrlichiosis (CME) is a systemic disease prevalent in the entire world caused by the obligate intracellular bacteria Ehrlichia canis. The occurrence of myocarditis with a high prevalence of arrhythmias in dogs affected by this disease in the cytopenic phase has already been proven. This study aims to evaluate the concentrations of CK MB, cTnI and NT-proBNP in dogs affected by Ehrlichia canis in the chronic phase since the intense stimulation of the immune system can lead to myocarditis; to evaluate if the condition can lead to arrhythmic events and, if so, define their frequency and classification through conventional and ambulatory electrocardiogram tests (Holter method) for a period of 24 hours; to analyze heart rate variability in the time domain and whether the condition can lead to autonomic imbalance; and to determine the survival rate of affected dogs, identifying possible risk factors for mortality at this stage of the disease. For this purposes, we evaluated clinical, hematological and biochemical data, as well as the concentrations of cardiac biomarkers Creatine Kinase-MB (CK MB), Cardiac Troponin I (cTnI) and N-terminal pro-peptide natriuretic type B (NT-proBNP). We also analyzed conventional and ambulatory electrocardiography (24-hour Holter) and heart rate variability (HRV) in 20 dogs afflicted by cytopenic CME in the chronic phase of the disease (G1) and compared the results with a control group comprised of ten healthy dogs (G2). G1 was monitored during the treatment for 28 days, during which eight (8) of the 20 infected dogs died (40%). Anorexia, vomiting, fatigue, hypoalbuminemia, heart murmurs and increased concentrations of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were common clinical signs. The mean concentrations of cTnI and CKMB were significant (0.24 ng / mL +/- 0.5, 229 +/- 205 IU / mL) in comparison to the control group (0.042 +/- 0.07 ng / mL, 126 +/- 46.12 IU / mL). No significant differences were observed between NT-proBNP concentrations in G1 (135.46 +/- 29.7) and G2 (138.28 +/- 19.77). Nine of the twenty dogs (45%) presented a high frequency of arrhythmias during 24-hour recording, ranging from first and second-degree atrioventricular block, ventricular and supraventricular ectopic events and sinus tachycardia. No sinus pause was observed. One dog had 120 episodes of unsustained ventricular tachycardia and two episodes of sustained ventricular tachycardia. The short-term and long-term HRV data, represented by SDNN (ms), SDANN (ms) and pnn50 (%) were also significant lower (83 +/- 65, 56.05 +/- 37.3 and 14.56 +/- 20, respectively) in comparison to the healthy animals (268 +/- 74.6, 168.3 +/- 39.14 and 55.87 +/- 12.8, respectively). These results suggest that cytopenic CME is characterized by an arrhythmogenic component and intense stimulation of the sympathetic autonomic nervous system in the heart, reflecting an imbalance in the activity of the ANS. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 15/16376-5 - Evaluation of cardiac lesions via biomarkers in dogs with chronic monocytic ehrliquiose
• Grantee: Maria Lucia Gomes Lourenço
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 14/11219-6 - Ambulatorial electrocardiographic evaluation of dogs with Monocytic Ehrlichiosis before and after treatment with doxycycline
• Grantee: Maurício Gianfrancesco Filippi
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master