Changes in heart rate and heart rate variability in Thoroughbreds during prolonged road transportation.
Abstract: To determine whether evaluation of heart rate (HR) and HR variability (HRV) during prolonged road transportation in horses provides a sensitive index of autonomic stimulation. Methods: Five 2-year-old Thoroughbreds. Methods: ECGs were recorded as horses were transported for 21 hours in a 9-horse van. Heart rate, high-frequency (HF) power, low-frequency (LF) power, and LF-to-HF ratio from Fourier spectral analyses of ECGs were calculated and compared with values recorded during a 24-hour period of stall rest preceding transportation. Results: HR, HF power, and LF power had diurnal rhythms during stall rest but not during road transportation. Heart rate was higher and HF power and LF power lower during road transportation than stall rest, and HR, HF power, LF power, and LF-to-HF ratio all decreased with time during road transportation. Heart rate during stall rest was weakly and inversely associated with LF power, but during road transportation was strongly associated with LF power, HF power, and LF-to-HF ratio. Neither LF power nor HF power was correlated with LF-to-HF ratio during stall rest, but LF power was strongly and HF power weakly correlated with LF-to-HF ratio during road transportation. High-frequency power and LF power were significantly correlated with each other during stall rest and road transportation. Heart rate was significantly influenced by LF power and LF-to-HF ratio during stall rest (R(2) = 0.40) and by HF power and LF-to-HF ratio during road transportation (R(2) = 0.86). Conclusions: HR is influenced by different sympathovagal mechanisms during stall rest, compared with during road transportation; HRV may be a sensitive indicator of stress in transported horses.
Publication Date: 2006-03-02 PubMed ID: 16506907DOI: 10.2460/ajvr.67.3.455Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Clinical Trial
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This research investigates how prolonged road transportation affects heart rate and heart rate variability in Thoroughbred horses. The study also explores whether these changes can be an accurate indicator of stress in transported horses.
Methods
- Subjects: The study involved five 2-year old Thoroughbred horses.
- Process: The horses were monitored through Electrocardiograms (ECGs) for a 24-hour stall rest period and during a 21-hour road trip in a 9-horse van.
- Data: The researchers recorded the heart rate, high-frequency power (HF), low-frequency power (LF), and the ratio of LF to HF power. These data were gathered during the stall rest period and the transportation journey.
Results
- During the stall rest period, heart rate, HF, and LF showed diurnal rhythms. However, these rhythms were absent during the road transportation.
- Compared to the stall rest period, the heart rate was higher and both HF and LF powers were lower during transportation.
- The heart rate, HF power, LF power, as well their LF-to-HF ratio steadily decreased over time during the transportation.
- Significant correlations were also observed. For instance, the heart rate during the stall rest period had a weak inverse correlation with LF power, whereas during road transportation, heart rate was strongly correlated with LF power, HF power, and the LF-to-HF ratio.
- Both LF and HF powers were significantly correlated with each other in both situations- during stall rest and during transportation.
- The LF-to-HF ratio also had a significant correlation with LF and HF powers only during transportation but not during the stall rest period.
- It was observed that LF power and LF-to-HF ratio significantly influenced heart rate during stall rest (R(2) = 0.40). During road transportation, heart rate was influenced significantly by HF power and LF-to-HF ratio (R(2) = 0.86).
Conclusions
- The study concludes that different sympathovagal mechanisms influence heart rate during stall rest in contrast to during road transportation. This may suggest that heart rate variability could be a sensitive indicator of stress in horses during transportation.
Cite This Article
APA
Ohmura H, Hiraga A, Aida H, Kuwahara M, Tsubone H, Jones JH.
(2006).
Changes in heart rate and heart rate variability in Thoroughbreds during prolonged road transportation.
Am J Vet Res, 67(3), 455-462.
https://doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.67.3.455 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Equine Science Division, Hidaka Training and Research Center, Japan Racing Association, 535-13 Aza-Nishicha, Urakawagun, Hokkaido 057-0171, Japan.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Female
- Heart Rate / physiology
- Horses / classification
- Horses / physiology
- Male
- Stress, Physiological
- Time Factors
- Travel
Citations
This article has been cited 9 times.- McCrae P, Spong H, Golestani N, Mahnam A, Bashura Y, Pearson W. Validation of an Equine Smart Textile System for Heart Rate Variability: A Preliminary Study.. Animals (Basel) 2023 Feb 1;13(3).
- Nielsen SS, Alvarez J, Bicout DJ, Calistri P, Canali E, Drewe JA, Garin-Bastuji B, Gonzales Rojas JL, Gortázar Schmidt C, Michel V, Miranda Chueca MÁ, Padalino B, Pasquali P, Roberts HC, Spoolder H, Stahl K, Velarde A, Viltrop A, Winckler C, Earley B, Edwards S, Faucitano L, Marti S, Miranda de La Lama GC, Costa LN, Thomsen PT, Ashe S, Mur L, Van der Stede Y, Herskin M. Welfare of equidae during transport.. EFSA J 2022 Sep;20(9):e07444.
- Ohmura H, Hiraga A. Effect of restraint inside the transport vehicle on heart rate and heart rate variability in Thoroughbred horses.. J Equine Sci 2022 Apr;33(1):13-17.
- Gehlen H, Faust MD, Grzeskowiak RM, Trachsel DS. Association Between Disease Severity, Heart Rate Variability (HRV) and Serum Cortisol Concentrations in Horses with Acute Abdominal Pain.. Animals (Basel) 2020 Sep 2;10(9).
- Ohmura H, Jones JH. Changes in heart rate and heart rate variability as a function of age in Thoroughbred horses.. J Equine Sci 2017;28(3):99-103.
- Kovács L, Kézér FL, Jurkovich V, Kulcsár-Huszenicza M, Tőzsér J. Heart Rate Variability as an Indicator of Chronic Stress Caused by Lameness in Dairy Cows.. PLoS One 2015;10(8):e0134792.
- Hiraga A, Sugano S. History of research in Japan on electrocardiography in the racehorse.. J Equine Sci 2015;26(1):1-13.
- Yoshida M, Onda K, Wada Y, Kuwahara M. Influence of sickness condition on diurnal rhythms of heart rate and heart rate variability in cows.. J Vet Med Sci 2015 Mar;77(3):375-9.
- Grosek S, Mlakar G, Vidmar I, Ihan A, Primozic J. Heart rate and leukocytes after air and ground transportation in artificially ventilated neonates: a prospective observational study.. Intensive Care Med 2009 Jan;35(1):161-5.
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