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ECG changes after rabbit coronavirus infection
L K Alexander1, B W Keene, B L Yount
1Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 27599-7400, USA.
Insights
Rabbit coronavirus (RbCV) infection causes myocarditis and heart failure in rabbits, with some developing dilated cardiomyopathy. ECG changes mimic human heart conditions, offering insights into sudden cardiac death.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Cardiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Animal Models
Background:
- Rabbit coronavirus (RbCV) infection is known to affect rabbits.
- Myocarditis and congestive heart failure are potential sequelae of viral infections.
- Dilated cardiomyopathy can develop in the chronic phase of certain cardiac conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the electrocardiographic (ECG) changes associated with RbCV infection in rabbits.
- To correlate ECG findings with the development of myocarditis, heart failure, and dilated cardiomyopathy.
- To evaluate RbCV infection as a model for studying sudden cardiac death.
Main Methods:
- Serial ECG recordings were performed on 31 RbCV-infected rabbits.
- Measurements included heart rate, P-R interval, QRS duration, QTc interval, and wave voltages.
- ECGs were analyzed for conduction disturbances, rhythm abnormalities, and repolarization issues.
Main Results:
- Acute/subacute phases showed sinus tachycardia, depressed R- and T-wave voltages, and conduction/rhythm/repolarization disturbances.
- Chronic phase: sinus rate normalized, QRS voltage changes resolved in most animals.
- ECG changes resemble those seen in human myocarditis, heart failure, and dilated cardiomyopathy.
Conclusions:
- RbCV infection induces cardiac pathology in rabbits, mirroring human cardiovascular diseases.
- Sudden cardiac death may occur due to increased ventricular vulnerability during acute RbCV infection.
- RbCV infection serves as a valuable animal model for studying sudden cardiac death and cardiac function.
Abstract:
This study examines the electrocardiographic (ECG) changes following rabbit coronavirus (RbCV) infection. We have shown that infection with RbCV results in the development of myocarditis and congestive heart failure and that some survivors of RbCV infection go on to develop dilated cardiomyopathy in the chronic phase. Serial ECGs were recorded on 31 RbCV-infected rabbits. Measurements of heart rate; P-R interval; QRS duration; QTc interval; and P-, QRS-, and T-wave voltages were taken. The recordings were also examined for disturbances of conduction, rhythm, and repolarization. The acute and subacute phases were characterized by sinus tachycardia with depressed R- and T-wave voltages as well as disturbances of conduction, rhythm, and repolarization. In most animals in the chronic phase, the sinus rate returned to near-baseline values with resolution of the QRS voltage changes. The ECG changes observed during RbCV infection are similar to the spectrum of interval/segment abnormalities, rhythm disturbances, conduction defects, and myocardial pathology seen in human myocarditis, heart failure, and dilated cardiomyopathy. Because animals often died suddenly in the absence of severe clinical signs of congestive heart failure during the acute phase, RbCV infection may increase ventricular vulnerability, resulting in sudden cardiac death. RbCV infection may provide a rare opportunity to study sudden cardiac death in an animal model in which the ventricle is capable of supporting ventricular fibrillation, and invasive techniques monitoring cardiac function can be performed.