Normal Electrocardiogram of Bama Miniature Pigs (Sus scrofa domestica).

Abstract

This study determined the normal ECG patterns and values for Bama miniature pigs. Standard limb-lead ECG were recorded from 120 clinically healthy, unanesthetized piglets (age, 2 to 4 mo). The values for the ECG parameters (mean ± 1 SD) were: heart rate, 125.56 ± 18.80 bpm; P amplitude, 0.11 ± 0.03 mV; QRS amplitude, 0.63 ± 0.31 mV; P duration, 43.99 ± 5.98 ms; QRS complex, 55.27 ± 7.02 ms; RR interval, 487.55 ± 77.32 ms; PR interval, 90.72 ± 11.94 ms; QT interval, 244.72 ± 25.27 ms; and mean electrical axis, 22.2 ± 80.3°. The P waves were predominantly positive in leads I and II and in the augmented unipolar limb aVF lead; by comparison, the QRS patterns were less uniform. The T waves were slightly positive in leads II, III, and aVF. The determination and publication of the normal ECG patterns and values of Bama minipigs facilitates understanding of the electrocardiographic changes that arise under experimental conditions.