Short QT intervals in African lions

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Authors

Scharling, Frederik S.
Sandgreen, Ditte-Mari
Stagegaard, Julia
Elbrønd, Vibeke S.
Vincenti, Stefano
Isaksen, Jonas L.
Wang, Tobias
Wilson, Rory P.
Gunner, Richard
Marks, Nikki

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Wiley

Abstract

The cardiac conduction system in large carnivores, such as the African lion (Panthera leo), represents a significant knowledge gap in both veterinary science and in cardiac electrophysiology. Short QT intervals have been reported from zoo-kept, anaesthetized lions, and our goal was to record the first ECGs from wild, conscious lions roaming freely, and compare them to zoo-kept lions under the hypothesis that short QT is unique to zoo-kept lions. Macroscopic and histological examinations were performed on heart tissue removed from nine healthy zoo lions. ECGs were recorded from the nine anaesthetized zoo-kept lions, and from 15 anaesthetized and conscious wild lions in Africa. Our histological and topographical description of the lion's heart matched what has previously been published. In conscious lions, the ECG recordings revealed a mean heart rate of 70 ± 4 beats/min, with faster heart rates during the night. PQ and QT intervals were heart rate dependent in the conscious lions. Interestingly, QT intervals recorded in wild lions were markedly longer than QT intervals from zoo lions (398 ± 40 vs. 297 ± 9 ms, respectively; P < 0.0001). Anaesthesia or heart rate did not account for this difference. We provide a comprehensive description of the cardiac anatomy and electrophysiology of wild and zoo-kept lions. QT intervals were significantly shorter in zoo lions, suggesting functional disparities in cardiac electrophysiology between wild and zoo-kept lions, potentially related to physical fitness. These findings underscore the plasticity of cardiac electrophysiology and may be of value when reintroducing endangered species into the wild and when managing lions in human care.

Description

DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT : Data behind Figures 2d, 3d and 4f are provided as Supporting information with this publication. The remaining data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Keywords

Circadian rhythm, Feline, Panthera leo, Predator, Purkinje, QT intervals, Lion (Panthera leo), SDG-03: Good health and well-being

Sustainable Development Goals

SDG-03:Good heatlh and well-being

Citation

Scharling, F.S., Sandgreen, D.-M., Stagegaard, J., Elbrønd, V.S., Vincenti, S., Isaksen, J.L., Wang, T., Wilson, R.P., Gunner, R., Marks, N., Bell, S.H., Van Rooyen, M.C., Bennett, N.C., Hart, D.W., Daly, A.C., Bertelsen, M.F., Scantlebury, D.M., Calloe, K., & Thomsen, M. B. (2024). Short QT intervals in African lions. . Experimental Physiology, 109, 2088–2099. https://doi.org/10.1113/EP092203.