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ABSTRACT: Background
Envenomation by the European adder (Vipera berus) is common in dogs in Europe. Cardiac arrhythmias occur but clinical studies of envenomated dogs are limited.Objectives
To describe arrhythmias in dogs within 48 hours of envenomation, and investigate associations between arrhythmia grade, serum troponin I (cTnI), and snakebite severity score (SS score).Animals
Twenty-one client-owned dogs bitten by V berus.Methods
Prospective cohort study of envenomated dogs. Ambulatory electrocardiograms were recorded from presentation to 48 hours after snakebite, and arrhythmias graded 0 to 3 based on frequency and severity. Serum cTnI was measured at presentation, 12 hours, 24 hours, 36 hours, and 14 days after bite. An SS score of 1 to 3 was recorded at admission and based on clinical examination.Results
All dogs survived. Twelve dogs (57%) developed arrhythmias, all of which were ventricular in origin. Severe complex ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) were observed in 6 dogs (29%). Eighty-one percent of dogs (n = 17) had increased cTnI concentrations at 1 or more time points. Dogs that developed arrhythmias had significantly higher concentrations of cTnI at 12 hours (1.67 [0.04-32.68] versus 0.03 [0.01-0.052]; P = .002), 24 hours (1.88 [0.2-14.23] versus 0.06 [0.01-2.06]; P = .009), and 36 hours (3.7 [0.02-16.62] versus 0.06 [0.01-1.33]; P = .006) after bite compared to those that did not. Contingency table analysis showed that SS score was not significantly associated with arrhythmia grade (P = .9).Conclusions and clinical importance
Myocardial cell injury, reflected by increased cTnI concentrations and VAs, is common after V berus envenomation in dogs. Prolonged electrocardiography monitoring is advised, particularly where cTnI is increased.
SUBMITTER: Harjen HJ
PROVIDER: S-EPMC7379007 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jul
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Journal of veterinary internal medicine 20200618 4
<h4>Background</h4>Envenomation by the European adder (Vipera berus) is common in dogs in Europe. Cardiac arrhythmias occur but clinical studies of envenomated dogs are limited.<h4>Objectives</h4>To describe arrhythmias in dogs within 48 hours of envenomation, and investigate associations between arrhythmia grade, serum troponin I (cTnI), and snakebite severity score (SS score).<h4>Animals</h4>Twenty-one client-owned dogs bitten by V berus.<h4>Methods</h4>Prospective cohort study of envenomated ...[more]