AbstractThis study was aimed to establish reference electrocardiographic parameters in healthy adult female camels using standardised acquisition and analysis protocols. Sixteen camels aged 9.5 ± 0.2 years and weighing 460.8 ± 19.9 kg were examined. ECGs were recorded in sternal recumbency employing a modified base–apex configuration with adhesive electrodes. Data acquisition was performed with a PowerLab system at 2 kHz, followed by high-order, linear, low-pass filtering and waveform annotation in MATLAB. Thirty sequential beats per animal were analysed for P wave duration, PR segment, PR interval, QRS duration, ST segment, QT interval, T wave duration, RR interval, heart rate (HR), heart rate variability (HRV) and T/QRS amplitude ratio. After exclusion of records with excessive noise and arrhythmias, analysis revealed a mean P wave duration of 90ms, PR interval of 221ms, QRS duration of 79ms, ST segment of 185ms, QT interval of 382ms and T wave duration of 118ms, RR interval 987ms. The average HR was 61bpm, with HRV of 49ms and a T/QRS amplitude ratio of 26%. Compared to earlier studies, these findings confirm species-specific features such as prolonged atrioventricular conduction and low-amplitude QRS complexes. Methodologically, adhesive electrodes combined with sternal recumbency provided improved signal quality and minimised motion artifacts over restraint in a standing position. This work contributes updated normative data for camel ECG interpretation and underscores the feasibility of using modern acquisition systems for consistent measurements. Establishing reliable ECG benchmarks is critical for diagnosing arrhythmias and conduction abnormalities in camels, with implications for health monitoring in racing, dairy and working animals. Further studies across ages, breeds, gender and physiological states are recommended to expand reference ranges.
Howarth et al. (Wed,) studied this question.