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Effects of the paralysis tick, Ixodes holocyclus, on the electrocardiogram of the Spectacled Flying Fox, Pteropus conspicillatus
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Effects of the paralysis tick, Ixodes holocyclus, on the electrocardiogram of the Spectacled Flying Fox, Pteropus conspicillatus

F.E. Campbell, R.B. Atwell and L. Smart
Australian Veterinary Journal, Vol.81(6), pp.328-331
2003
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Abstract

Objective: To evaluate cardiac electrical function in the Spectacled Flying Fox (bat) infested with Ixodes holocyclus. Design: Prospective clinical investigation of bats treated for naturally occurring tick toxicity. Procedure: ECGs were performed on bats with tick toxicity (n = 33), bats that recovered slowly (n = 5) and normally (n = 5) following treatment for tick toxicity, and on normal bats with no history of tick toxicity (n = 9). Results: Bats with tick toxicity had significantly prolonged corrected QT intervals, bradycardia and rhythm disturbances which included sinus bradydysrhythmia, atrial standstill, ventricular premature complexes, and idioventricular bradydysrhythmia. Conclusions: The QT prolongation observed on ECG traces of bats with tick toxicity reflected delayed ventricular repolarisation and predisposed to polymorphic ventricular tachycardia and sudden cardiac death in response to sympathetic stimulation. The inability to document ventricular tachycardia in bats shortly before death from tick toxicity may be explained by a lack of sympathetic resporisiveness attributable to the unique parasympathetic innervation of the bat heart, or hypothermia-induced catecholamine receptor down-regulation. Bradycardia and rhythm disturbances may be attributable to hypothermia.

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Citation topics
1 Clinical & Life Sciences
1.94 Cardiac Arrhythmia
1.94.470 Cardiac Electrophysiology
Web Of Science research areas
Veterinary Sciences
ESI research areas
Plant & Animal Science
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