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Biomedical subjects

P W Physick-Sheard

Publications and source records attributed to P W Physick-Sheard.

18 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Frequency domain analysis of heart rate variability in horses at rest and during exercise.

The pattern of variation in heart rate on a beat-to-beat basis contains information concerning sympathetic (SNS) and parasympathetic (PNS) contributions to autonomic nervous system (ANS) modulation of heart rate (HR). In the present study, heart period (RR interval) time series data were collected at rest and during 3 different treadmill exercise protocols from 6 Thoroughbred horses. Frequency and spectral power were determined in 3 frequency bands: very low (VLF) 0-< or = 0.01, low (LO) >0.01-< or = 0.07 and high (HI) >0.07-< or = 0.5 cycles/beat. Indicators of sympathetic (SNSI = LO/HI) and parasympathetic (PNSI = HI/TOTAL) activity were calculated. Power in all bands fell progressively with increasing exercise intensity from rest to trot. At the gallop VLF and LO power continued to fall but HI power rose. SNSI rose from rest to walk, then fell with increasing effort and was lowest at the gallop. PNSI fell from rest to walk, then rose and was highest at the gallop. Normalised HI power exceeded combined VLF and LO power at all gaits, with the ratio HI to LO power being lowest at the walk and highest at the gallop. ANS indicators showed considerable inter-horse variation, and varied less consistently than raw power with increasing physical effort. In the horses studied, the relationship between power and HR changed at exercise intensities associated with heart rates above approximately 120-130 beats/min. At this level, humoral and other non-neural mechanisms may become more important than autonomic modulation in influencing heart rate and heart rate variability (HRV). HRV at intense effort may be influenced by respiratory-gait entrainment, energetics of locomotion and work of breathing. HRV analysis in the frequency domain would appear to be of potential value as a noninvasive means of assessing autonomic modulation of heart rate at low exercise intensities, only. The technique may be a sensitive method for assessing exercise response to experimental manipulations and disease states.

Algorithms↗
PubMed1987

Phagocytic function of equine neutrophils exposed to Mycoplasma felis in vitro and in vivo.

Neutrophils were isolated from the peripheral blood of adult equids (group 1) and were purified on a density gradient of polyvinylpyrrolidone-coated silica gel. A bactericidal assay was developed, using an equine skin isolate of Staphylococcus epidermidis as target bacterium in medium containing pooled fresh equine serum for opsonization. Significant (P less than 0.05) killing was observed after 60 or 120 minutes' incubation. Reduction in bactericidal function of blood neutrophils was not found after incubation with a virulent strain of Mycoplasma felis for 30 or 60 minutes. Similarly, the function of blood and pleural neutrophils of ponies with M felis-induced pleuritis (group 2) was not different from the function of similar neutrophils from sham-inoculated control ponies (group 3). The number of viable M felis organisms was markedly reduced in the presence of fresh equine serum and equine-specific antibodies, but not when the serum was heat inactivated. Equine neutrophils did not phagocytize M felis. Seemingly, M felis did not impair bactericidal activity of equine neutrophils. Therefore, this mechanism does not predispose equids to bacterial pleuritis.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Detection of antibodies to Mycoplasma felis in horses.

Mycoplasma felis has been isolated from horses with pleuritis, and limited research indicates that mycoplasma pleuritis can be reproduced in horses. The serodiagnostic potential of the indirect hemagglutination and the metabolism-inhibition tests was evaluated by testing 177 horses for antibodies to M felis. Seven horses with M felis pleuritis developed antibodies, and 6 horses with sterile or bacterial pleuritis had high titers suggesting a previous M felis infection. Six horses with pleuritis (one sterile and five bacterial) had low or no titers to M felis. Only one of 30 horses with conditions other than respiratory diseases seroconverted during hospitalization and the remaining horses had low titers. Seventy-eight foals, 4 to 6 months old, from one farm did not have titers, whereas 7 out of 50 yearlings from the same farm had high titers in the indirect hemagglutination test and titers in the metabolism-inhibition test. It appears that both tests are suitable for serodiagnosis of M felis infection in horses.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Career profile of the Canadian Standardbred. I. Influence of age, gait and sex upon chances of racing.

The objective of the present investigation was to provide demographic information regarding the career profile of the average Canadian Standardbred racehorse for application in undergraduate teaching and clinical decision-making. The study population of 762 horses was selected at random from the 1972 registrations of the Canadian Standardbred Horse Society. Sex, birthdate, and province of origin were recorded. Records of racing performance were summarized to provide annual statistics for number of races, money won, race times, and months raced over a ten year period from 1974 to 1983 inclusive. Results were analyzed to determine chances of racing, and the effect of sex, gait, and year of first race upon career duration. Of the 762 horses studied, 507 (66.5%) raced. Mean age at the time of the first race was 3.4 +/- 0.5 years (mean +/- SEM), mean career duration 4.1 +/- 0.1 years. Only 84 horses started racing at two years of age, the majority starting at three and four. Sex had a significant effect upon chances of racing, females having less chance than males or geldings. Females similarly had much shorter careers. As age at the time of the first race increased so did the rate of loss of horses from active competition (attrition rate). The difference between successive years was significant (p less than 0.01). Attrition rates were lower for trotters than for pacers, while geldings showed a significantly lower rate than either males or females (p less than 0.05). Relatively few of those horses for which year of first race was delayed beyond 1974 had been entered in qualifying races in previous years.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Age Factors↗
PubMed1986

Career profile of the Canadian Standardbred. II. Influence of age, gait and sex upon number of races, money won and race times.

The objective of the study was to examine the career profile of the average racehorse in order to establish normal values for performance. Records of race performance for a population of 762 horses randomly-selected from the 1972 registrations of the Canadian Standardbred Horse Society were summarized to provide annual statistics for number of races, money won, and times for the mile (race times) over the period 1974 to 1983 inclusive. Results were analyzed to determine the influence of sex, gait, age, and year of the first race. The transformation log (1 + X) was used to achieve normality where necessary. The 95% confidence interval for the mean (mean range) for career total for number of races was 21.8 to 69.6. Of the horses which raced, 30% raced 20 or fewer times, 29% raced more than 100 times. Females raced significantly less often than either males or geldings (p less than 0.001), pacers significantly more often than trotters (p less than 0.01). Regardless of the age at which they first competed all horses were raced lightly in their first race year. Mean range for career total for money won was $2,212 to $2,798 (n = 507). Of 507 horses which raced, 65.8% earned less than $10,000, 6.3% more than $50,000. Trotting geldings had the highest mean money won, mean range $2,448 to $38,105. Mean range for money won per race for all horses racing was $67.77 to $74.51. Overall, 58% of horses earned less than $100 per race, 4.5% over $500. Only 4.5% of horses racing met their immediate training expenses. Increase in age at first race was associated with highly significant and progressive reductions in career races, money won, and money won per race. Of 507 horses which raced, 409 or 80% won at least one race and thus acquired an official winning time or mark. Population mean for career mark was 2.126 min (2.07.3.). Population trend in mean mark was for progressive improvement over the ten year racing period amounting to 0.0968 min or 5.81 s. The average horse achieved its best winning time 2.55 years after starting racing, at a mean age of 5.27 years. The results suggest that the best nonwinning time may be a better indicator of potential than the best winning time. For the average as opposed to the superlative horse, number of races appears to be of greater importance than speed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Age Factors↗
PubMed1986

Career profile of the Canadian Standardbred. III. Influence of temporary absence from racing and season.

The objective of the study was to examine the career profile of the average racehorse in order to establish normal values for performance. Records of race performance for a population of 762 horses randomly selected from the 1972 registrations of the Canadian Standardbred Horse Society were summarized and the pattern of racing by year and month from 1974 to 1983 inclusive recorded. Results were analyzed to determine the influence of sex, gait, age, and year of first race (starting year). The transformation log (1 + X) was used to achieve normality where necessary. Of the 762 horses, 507 raced, 56 (11.0%) of which took one or more complete seasons (years) off. No age predisposition was detected, and no significant difference in mean career performance between the group taking a season off and the remaining horses were found, with the exception of career length, which was longer for those temporarily absent from racing (p less than 0.001). No influence upon career pattern for horses off early in their career was observed but those off late showed indications of a subsequent fall in number of races per year and in times for the mile. Mean career duration was 25.66 to 28.38 months (95% confidence limits for the mean, n = 507). Absence from racing of at least one months duration was taken by 437 horses, mean percentage of career off 42.36 +/- 0.94% (mean +/- SEM), mean duration of periods off 4.43 to 4.71 months. Career duration in months and percentage off were only weakly related (r = -0.16).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Age Factors↗
PubMed1985

Cardiovascular response to exercise and training in the horse.

The quality of the overall response to exercise in the horse is very similar to that seen in man and laboratory animals; differences are mainly quantitative and persist when relative body weight is taken into account. The apparently greater flow capacity of the equine muscle bed during maximal whole-body exercise implicates the extent of central circulatory adaptations as the limiting factor in performance but implies a role for increase in arteriolar capacitance/muscle capillarity as an appropriate response to intense endurance training. The blood oxygen-carrying capacity of the horse is often quoted as the major component of the animal's superior aerobic work capacity, although the measured maximal a-vO2 for the horse is only 2 to 3 ml greater than that found in elite athletes. In fact, comparison of published performance data for man and the horse reveals that improved a-vO2 accounts for 23 per cent of the difference, and increased Qc accounts for the remaining 77 per cent of the superior oxygen consumption in the horse. The extent to which the horse can increase Qc and muscle blood flow appears to represent its major adaptations for maximal aerobic performance. It is frequently observed that there have been far greater improvements in human athletic performance than in that of the race-horse, and this difference is usually attributed to the application of scientific training methods to the athlete. It has also been suggested that the horse may have reached the limit of its adaptive ability. The horse has a maximal oxygen pulse of at least 0.6 ml per kg per beat compared with 0.35 for man, a 90 per cent whole body oxygen extraction, and an 80 to 90 per cent higher muscle blood flow, with an overall capability of increasing Vo2 max by 35 times. These represent levels that would appear to be difficult to improve upon. However, insufficient research has been performed to firmly state true maxima for the horse, and current research does not reveal to what extent the horse is capable of responding to even conventional training methods. The relative improvement that such research could reveal would provide some objective guidance to the extent to which further improvement could be anticipated. A consistent finding in the majority of studies reviewed is the tendency for results to show a lack of statistical significance, which is particularly frustrating for a researcher when the trends are consistent with the initial hypotheses. This tendency arises because of small group sizes and inherent variability in the test population.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Aortic-iliac thrombosis in horses.

Vascular obstruction of the hindlimbs was diagnosed clinically in 15 horses, and was characterized at necropsy in eight of those horses. The condition was identified as an incidental post mortem finding in two additional horses. The principal clinical signs in affected horses were progressive exercise intolerance and hind-leg lameness. At post mortem the oldest lesions were located at the aortic quadrifurcation and in the distal portions of the femoral and internal iliac arteries, and consisted of partially or completely occlusive masses of well-organized and well-vascularized fibrous tissue, occasionally containing hemorrhagic or degenerate areas. Proximal to these organized masses, large unorganized thrombi were often present. In the region of the occlusive masses, the tunica intima was obliterated, except for the internal elastic lamina which usually remained intact. The tunica media was largely unaffected, except for ischemic necrosis of the media in greatly distended arteries or under thick plaques. The pathogenesis of the lesions is unresolved. The lesions may result from organization of strongyle-related thromboemboli or the inciting cause may be progressive enlargement and organization of spontaneously developing fibrous intimal plaques. Hypercoagulability of the blood may have contributed to thrombosis in one mare with the nephrotic syndrome. Routine examination of the aortic quadrifurcation and its major branches is recommended in order that subclinical changes may be detected and the natural history of the lesion elucidated.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Atrial septal defect of the persistent ostium primum type with hypoplastic right ventricle in a Welsh pony foal.

Valvular competency of the foramen ovale (patent foramen ovale) is regarded as a common finding in the neonatal foal and usually occurs in isolation. True atrial septal defects appear to be uncommon and are usually associated with other congenital cardiac lesions. The present report describes a case of atrial septal defect type 1 (persistent ostium primum) complicated by hypoplastic right ventricle, and tricuspid dysplasia, in a Welsh Mountain pony foal, and discusses the embryogenesis of the abnormality. A critical review of the literature suggests that atrial septal defects may occur more frequently than they are reported, and that on occasion they may be described erroneously as patent foramen ovale. The clinical significance of uncomplicated discontinuity of the atrial septum is slight, depending upon the size and location of the defect. Complicated atrial septal defects vary in clinical significance according to the nature of the associated defects.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Microprocessor-based system for collection and storage of the equine vectorcardiogram.

To evaluate the clinical application of a semiorthogonal lead system for use in the horse, an inexpensive means of recording and storing the ECG was required which would allow the subsequent vectorcardiographic analysis to be computerized. In investigating the various options for the system the basic requirements for the digitization of analogue data were reviewed and previous studies examined. The system subsequently developed used an 8080 microprocessor and a multichannel 8-bit analogue to digital converter. This unit was signal-level compatible with the laboratory recorder used in the study and was capable of functioning as a remote terminal. Storage was achieved through the use of a dual-drive task storage system. Programs were written in machine language, both to control the data acquisition procedure and subsequent storage and to facilitate the transfer of data from the microprocessor to a central computing facility for analysis. Data were collected with 8-bit accuracy at a sampling rate of 2,702 samples/s/ channel for 3 channels of data with a system frequency response before digitization of 0.05 to 2,500 Hz. Preliminary analysis indicated that for accurate reproduction, the frequency response of the system before digitization should be a minimum of direct current, to 1,300 Hz, dictating a sampling rate of at least 2,000 samples/s.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

A border disease-like syndrome in a southern Ontario sheep flock.

An outbreak of nervous disease and abnormally hairy fleece was observed among newborn lambs in a closed flock of sheep in southern Ontario. The outbreak was investigated and found to closely parallel syndromes described in the British Isles and Australia and variously referred to as border disease, hypomyelinogenesis congenita and hairy shaker syndrome. Clinically affected lambs represented only a portion of the animals affected, considerable losses being caused by reproductive failure in the ewes and suboptimal performance in subclinically affected lambs. Sheep from the affected flock showed a strong serological response to the causative agent of bovine virus diarrhea/mucosal disease. The episode appeared to be chronologically related to the introduction of beef heifers from a sales barn. The paper discusses the results of clinico-epidemiological investigation of the outbreak in the light of current knowledge of border disease-like syndromes.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Cardiac muscle mass distribution in the domestic turkey and relationship to electrocardiogram.

Ventricular weights were measured in 20-week-old male and female heavy turkeys, and electrocardiograms (ECGs) were recorded in 10- and 20-week-old male and female heavy turkeys. Twenty-week-old males had heavier relative left ventricular and total ventricular weights than females of the same age. Left-to-right ventricular weight ratios were 4.4:1 in males and 4.5:1 in females. Heart rate was faster in young birds and in females, and that influenced the duration of the intervals of the ECG. Wave amplitudes were smaller in 10-week-old turkeys than in 20-week-old turkeys. There was no correlation between electrocardiographic parameters and ventricular weights of male and female turkeys. Two-dimensional ECGs were therefore found to be of minimal value for detecting turkeys with heavier ventricles.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of exercise on the cardiovascular and respiratory systems of heavy turkeys and relevance to sudden death syndrome.

The cardiorespiratory response to walking exercise was studied in 14-to-18-week-old male and female heavy turkeys. Blood pressure, electrocardiograms, respiratory rate, body temperature, blood gases, and electrolytes were measured at rest and after exercise at two different room temperatures. After exercise, systolic, diastolic, and mean blood pressures decreased, and heart rate and body temperature increased, while a severe lactic acidosis developed, in both sexes and at both room temperatures. Fifty-four percent of the turkeys developed arrhythmias, mostly a transient post-exercise sinus arrhythmia of no clinical significance. Changes in electrolytes were clinically insignificant. Blood gases remained within normal limits, demonstrating adequate gas-exchange and pulmonary capability. Within the limits of this study, the cardiac capacity of the heavy turkey in response to exercise appeared very limited. The pathogenesis of sudden death syndrome of turkeys is still unknown, but cardiovascular changes occurring after exercise could be severe enough to cause death.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of exercise on cardiac output and other cardiovascular parameters of heavy turkeys and relevance to the sudden death syndrome.

The cardiovascular response to treadmill exercise was studied in 14-to-18-week-old male and female heavy turkeys. Arterial blood pressure, cardiac output, body temperature, and heart rate were measured before and during each period of exercise. Total peripheral resistance, stroke volume, and stroke index were calculated from those parameters. Systolic, diastolic, and mean blood pressures significantly decreased during exercise. Cardiac output increased during exercise in males and females by 64% and 23%, respectively, while total peripheral resistance fell by approximately 40% in both sexes. Exercise had no significant effect on stroke volume and stroke index. The cardiac functional capacity of the heavy turkey in response to mild exercise appears very limited. This failure of the cardiovascular system to adequately respond to increased metabolic needs suggests that hemodynamic failure is a major component in the pathogenesis of sudden death syndrome of turkeys.

Animals↗