{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,23]],"date-time":"2026-09-23T00:07:54Z","timestamp":1790122074560,"version":"4.0.1"},"reference-count":30,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"4","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2020,11,20]],"date-time":"2020-11-20T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1605830400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Veterinary Sciences"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Pyometra is considered the most common disease in intact bitches, being associated with potentially life-threatening disorders. Myocardial damage is a potentially life-threatening consequence of pyometra. The aim of this study was to describe the electrocardiographic patterns in bitches affected by closed cervix pyometra, to assess the clinical relevance of electrocardiographic changes with the occurrence of pyometra, and to relate their severity with laboratory and clinical findings. A total of 39 bitches with closed cervix pyometra and 10 healthy female dogs were included in this study. During the hospitalization, bitches underwent a complete physical examination. An electrocardiographic examination before the ovariohysterectomy was performed. Blood samples for biochemical and hematological analysis were also evaluated. Bitches suffering pyometra at least one arrhythmia 31\/39 (79.4%), sinus tachycardia (22\/39, 56.4%), ventricular premature complexes (9\/39, 23%), increased amplitude of T wave (7\/39, 17.9%), ST depression (4\/39, 10.2%), second-degree atrioventricular block (2\/39, 5.1%), increase of QT interval (2\/39, 5.1%), sinus bradycardia (2\/39, 5.1%), and first-degree atrioventricular block (1\/39, 2.5%). Some bitches were also detected with low wave amplitude (17\/39, 43.5%). Cardiac arrhythmias associated with canine pyometra are frequent events. These data suggest that arrhythmias may be the consequence of one or more factors that can occur during pyometra, such as myocardial damage, electrolyte\/metabolic disorders, and\/or sepsis.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/vetsci7040183","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2020,11,20]],"date-time":"2020-11-20T09:46:18Z","timestamp":1605865578000},"page":"183","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":6,"title":["Electrocardiographic Findings in Bitches Affected by Closed Cervix Pyometra"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"7","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0440-5457","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Michela","family":"Pugliese","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, 98168 Messina, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Rocky","family":"La Maestra","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, 98168 Messina, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1701-3636","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Annamaria","family":"Passantino","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, 98168 Messina, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Santo","family":"Cristarella","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, 98168 Messina, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4527-7030","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Massimo","family":"De Majo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, 98168 Messina, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Vito","family":"Biondi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, 98168 Messina, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4812-0402","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Marco","family":"Quartuccio","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, 98168 Messina, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2020,11,20]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"639","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cvsm.2018.03.001","article-title":"Pyometra in Small Animals","volume":"48","author":"Hagman","year":"2018","journal-title":"Vet. Clin. Small Anim."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"288","DOI":"10.1111\/rda.12843","article-title":"Canine pyometra: What is new?","volume":"52","author":"Hagman","year":"2017","journal-title":"Reprod. Domest. Anim."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"347","DOI":"10.1111\/rda.12103","article-title":"Breed variations in the incidence of pyometra and mammary tumours in Swedish dogs","volume":"47","author":"Jitpean","year":"2012","journal-title":"Reprod. Domest. Anim."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"530","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1939-1676.2001.tb01587.x","article-title":"Breed risk of pyometra in insured dogs in Sweden","volume":"15","author":"Egenvall","year":"2001","journal-title":"J. Vet. Int. Med."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"359","DOI":"10.1016\/j.theriogenology.2008.04.028","article-title":"Clinical presentation of canine pyometra and mucometra: A review","volume":"70","author":"Pretzer","year":"2008","journal-title":"Theriogenology"},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Jitpean, S., Ambrosen, A., Emanuelson, U., and Hagman, R. (2017). Closed cervix is associated with more severe illness in dogs with pyometra. BMC Vet. Res., 13.","DOI":"10.1186\/s12917-016-0924-0"},{"key":"ref_7","first-page":"52","article-title":"Canine Pyometra: Current Perspectives on Causes and Management\u2014A Review","volume":"14","author":"Kumar","year":"2018","journal-title":"Indian J. Vet. Sci. Biotechnol."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"131","DOI":"10.1016\/j.theriogenology.2016.10.016","article-title":"Expression of oxytocin, progesterone, and estrogen receptors in the reproductive tract of bitches with pyometra","volume":"89","author":"Prapaiwan","year":"2017","journal-title":"Theriogenology"},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"193","DOI":"10.1136\/vr.157.7.193","article-title":"Antimicrobial resistance in Escherichia coli isolated from bitches with pyometra and from urine samples from other dogs","volume":"157","author":"Hagman","year":"2005","journal-title":"Vet. Rec."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"569","DOI":"10.1186\/BF03548423","article-title":"Microbial immunological and toxicological aspects of canine pyometra","volume":"18","author":"Naess","year":"1977","journal-title":"Acta Vet. Scand."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"477","DOI":"10.1590\/S1517-83822008000300012","article-title":"Microbiological and histopathological aspects of canine pyometra","volume":"39","author":"Coggan","year":"2008","journal-title":"Braz. J. Microbiol."},{"key":"ref_12","first-page":"58","article-title":"Cystic endometrial hyperplasia-pyometra syndrome in bitches: Identification of hemodynamic, inflammatory, and cell proliferation changes","volume":"96","author":"Veiga","year":"2017","journal-title":"Biol. Reprod."},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"6","DOI":"10.1186\/1751-0147-49-6","article-title":"Cardiac troponin I levels in canine pyometra","volume":"49","author":"Hagman","year":"2007","journal-title":"Acta Vet. Scand."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"22","DOI":"10.1186\/s40560-016-0148-1","article-title":"Sepsis-induced myocardial dysfunction: Pathophysiology and management","volume":"4","author":"Kakihana","year":"2016","journal-title":"J. Intensive Care"},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"35","DOI":"10.1186\/1751-0147-50-35","article-title":"Concentrations of cardiac Troponin I before and after ovariohysterectomy in 46 female dogs with pyometra","volume":"50","author":"Pelander","year":"2008","journal-title":"J. Acta Vet. Scand."},{"key":"ref_16","unstructured":"Slatter, D. (2003). Assessment and preparation of the surgical patient. Textbook of Small Animal Surgery, Elsevier Health Sciences. [2nd ed.]."},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"245","DOI":"10.1136\/vr.150.8.245","article-title":"Usefulness of systemic inflammatory response syndrome criteria as an index for prognosis judgement","volume":"150","author":"Okano","year":"2002","journal-title":"Vet Rec."},{"key":"ref_18","unstructured":"Santilli, R., Sidney Mo\u00efse, N., Pariaut, R., and Perego, M. (2018). Electrocardiography of the Dog and Cat. Diagnosis of Arrhythmias, Edra. [2nd ed.]."},{"key":"ref_19","unstructured":"Tilley, L.P. (1994). The approach to the electrocardiogram. Essentials of Canine and Feline Electrocardiography, Lea & Febiger. [3rd ed.]."},{"key":"ref_20","unstructured":"Schalm, O.W., Jane Wardrop, K., and Weiss, D.J. (2010). Schalm\u2019s Veterinary Hematology, Wiley-Blackwell. [6th ed.]."},{"key":"ref_21","unstructured":"Kaneko, J.J., Harvey, J.W., and Bruss, M.L. (2008). Clinical Biochemistry of Domestic Animals, Elsevier. [6th ed.]."},{"key":"ref_22","first-page":"14","article-title":"Haematobiochemical studies in canine pyometra","volume":"6","author":"Shah","year":"2017","journal-title":"J. Pharm. Phytochem."},{"key":"ref_23","first-page":"1564","article-title":"Clinico-hematological and serum biochemical alterations in pyometra affected bitches","volume":"12","author":"Patil","year":"2013","journal-title":"Afr. J. Biotechnol."},{"key":"ref_24","first-page":"1409","article-title":"Association of canine pyometra with systemic inflammatory response syndrome","volume":"7","author":"Ahuja","year":"2019","journal-title":"J. Entomol. Zool. Stud."},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"266","DOI":"10.1139\/Y09-012","article-title":"Impaired regulation of cardiac function in sepsis, SIRS, and MODS","volume":"87","author":"Werdan","year":"2009","journal-title":"Can. J. Physiol. Pharm."},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"532","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jcrc.2007.09.005","article-title":"Clinical characteristics and outcomes of septic patients with new onset atrial fibrillation","volume":"23","author":"Christian","year":"2008","journal-title":"J. Crit. Care"},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2248","DOI":"10.1001\/jama.2011.1615","article-title":"Incident stroke and mortality associated with new-onset atrial fibrillation in patients hospitalized with severe sepsis","volume":"306","author":"Walkey","year":"2011","journal-title":"JAMA"},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"342","DOI":"10.1097\/01.ccx.0000135514.20538.44","article-title":"Cardiac troponin elevations among critically ill patients","volume":"10","author":"Gunnewiek","year":"2004","journal-title":"Curr. Opin. Crit. Care"},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"498","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jelectrocard.2008.06.021","article-title":"Low QRS voltage and its causes","volume":"41","author":"Madias","year":"2008","journal-title":"J. Electrocardiol."},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"187","DOI":"10.1159\/000063120","article-title":"ECG Changes during Septic Shock","volume":"97","author":"Rich","year":"2002","journal-title":"Cardiology"}],"container-title":["Veterinary Sciences"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2306-7381\/7\/4\/183\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,11]],"date-time":"2025-10-11T10:35:08Z","timestamp":1760178908000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2306-7381\/7\/4\/183"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2020,11,20]]},"references-count":30,"journal-issue":{"issue":"4","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2020,12]]}},"alternative-id":["vetsci7040183"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/vetsci7040183","relation":{},"ISSN":["2306-7381"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2306-7381","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2020,11,20]]}}}