The effects of Terazosin on electrocardiography, cardiac indexes and performance in broiler chickens fed dense diet to induce ascites

The ascites syndrome as a metabolic complication, outbreak due to lack of oxygen supply sufficient to meet the metabolic needs of rapid growth with exudation fluids from the blood and accumulates in the abdominal of broiler chickens. To evaluate the effects of terazosin alpha blocker as a blood pressure reducer on electrocardiography, cardiac indexes and performance values of the present experiment was conducted in broiler chickens at risk of ascites. A total of 300 broilers (Ross 308) one day with five treatments, four replications and 15 broilers in each replicate in a completely randomized design (CRD) was used. The treatments were: 1. The group received the basal diet and drinking water without terazosin (control), 2. The group receive dense ration and drinking water without terazosin, 3. The group receive dense ration and drinking water contains terazosin (1 mg/L), 4. The group receive dense ration and drinking water contains terazosin (2 mg/L), 5. The group receive dense ration and drinking water contains terazosin (4 mg/L). At the 42th day of experiment, performance characteristics, heart weight, cardiac dimensions and limb leads electrocardiogram, were calculated and recorded. The Changes in diets and the terazosin intake were not significant effect on broiler performance traits during breeding period. Consumption of the dense diet significantly increased the amount of abdominal fat. RR interval in the leads II and aVR were affected by the changes taking terazosinlevels and diets. The level of 2 mg/L terazosin reduced both the height (voltage) of the T wave and RR interval (duration) in leads II. Consumption of 2 mg/L terazosin reduce the weight of the heart, increasing of the heart rate and prevent the effects of dense diet involves reducing the voltage of the T wave and shortening of the RR interval in leads II. Therefore, the use of terazosin at the level of 2 mg/L of water intake,while maintain stabilityof the functional traits,can prevent from early signs of dense diet consumption and ascites incidence in broiler.