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Contemporary topics in laboratory animal science2002; 37(3); 51-55;

Comparison of Body Temperatures of Goats, Horses, and Sheep Measured With a Tympanic Infrared Thermometer, an Implantable Microchip Transponder, and a Rectal Thermometer.

Abstract: Body temperature of goats, horses, and sheep was measured, using 3 methods. Tympanic temperature was measured with a tympanic infrared thermometer, subcutaneous temperature was measured with an implantable microchip transponder, and rectal temperature was measured with a digital thermometer. For goats, rectal and subcutaneous temperatures were significantly higher than tympanic temperatures, but rectal and subcutaneous temperatures did not differ significantly. For horses and sheep, rectal temperatures were significantly higher than tympanic and subcutaneous temperatures, and tympanic temperatures were significantly higher than subcutaneous temperatures. Tympanic infrared thermometry correlated well with traditional rectal thermometry in goats and sheep and should be considered as a viable alternative in those species. Additionally, implantable microchip transponders in goats could be used, because those temperatures also correlated well with temperatures derived by rectal thermometry. Due to the poor correlation with rectal thermometry and reaction of some animals to insertion of the tympanic probe, neither of the alternative methods appear to be useful in horses at this time. Tympanic infrared thermometers and implantable microchip transponders were convenient to use and allowed temperature measurements to be obtained more rapidly than when rectal thermometers were used.
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Publication Date: 2002-11-29 PubMed ID: 12456161
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research study compares body temperatures of goats, horses, and sheep recorded through three devices— a tympanic infrared thermometer, an implantable microchip transponder, and a traditional rectal thermometer. The study findings suggest that tympanic infrared thermometry can be seen as a viable alternative for rectal thermometry in goats and sheep, and implantable microchip transponders may also be useful in goats.

Measurement Tools

  • The research paper discusses three tools used to record the body temperature of the animals. These tools are a tympanic infrared thermometer, an implantable microchip transponder, and a rectal thermometer, which is often used as a traditional tool in such measurements.
  • The tympanic infrared thermometer is used to gauge temperature through the ears (tympanic) of the animals.
  • The implantable microchip transponder, implanted under the skin (subcutaneously), reads body temperature directly from within the body, providing the subcutaneous temperature.
  • The rectal thermometer is used to record the body temperature through the rectum of the animals, a typical process in animal healthcare.

Differences in Temperature Measurement

  • The research identified differences in body temperatures as recorded by the different tools.
  • In goats, the rectal and subcutaneous temperatures were found to be significantly higher than tympanic temperatures; however, no significant difference was observed between rectal and subcutaneous temperatures.
  • In horses and sheep, rectal temperatures were significantly higher than both tympanic and subcutaneous temperatures. Contrastingly, tympanic temperatures were significantly higher than subcutaneous temperatures.
  • These comparisons indicate the assessment of effectiveness and consistency among the three tools in giving precise temperature measurements.

Correlation with Rectal Thermometry

  • According to the study, the measurements derived from tympanic infrared thermometry correlated well with those from rectal thermometry for goats and sheep, suggesting that this method could be a reliable alternative.
  • Similarly, the data also showed a good correlation between temperatures recorded with the use of an implantable microchip transponder and rectal thermometry in goats. This suggests that this method could also be considered a viable alternative in goats.
  • Contrarily for horses, neither the tympanic infrared thermometer nor the implantable microchip transponder provided data that correlated well with the rectal thermometry. Therefore, these methods aren’t favored as alternatives in horses for now.

Convenience and Speed

  • The researchers also highlighted that the tympanic infrared thermometers and implantable microchip transponders were easier to use and provided temperature readings more rapidly compared to rectal temperature measurement. This suggests these alternative methods could provide advantages in terms of time efficiency and ease of use.

Cite This Article

APA
Goodwin S. (2002). Comparison of Body Temperatures of Goats, Horses, and Sheep Measured With a Tympanic Infrared Thermometer, an Implantable Microchip Transponder, and a Rectal Thermometer. Contemp Top Lab Anim Sci, 37(3), 51-55.

Publication

Contemporary topics in laboratory animal science
ISSN: 1060-0558
NlmUniqueID: 9204153
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 37
Issue: 3
Pages: 51-55

Researcher Affiliations

Goodwin, Susan
  • Veterinary Medicine Division, U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1425 Porter Street, Fort Detrick, Maryland 21702-5011.

Citations

This article has been cited 21 times.
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