Effect of the Depth of Insertion of the Thermometer on the Rectal Temperature of Donkeys During the Hot-Dry Season in a Tropical Savannah.
Abstract: The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of the depth of insertion and environmental parameters on the rectal temperature (RT) in donkeys during the hot-dry season in a tropical savannah zone of Nigeria. The experimental subjects were comprised of thirty donkeys divided into three groups based on age: group I, 10 foals (40.67 ± 2.20 kg; 1.50 ± 0.02 months); group II, 10 yearlings (91.53 ± 0.54 kg; 1.51 ± 0.01 years); and group III, 10 adults (140 ± 0.71 kg; 8.03 ± 0.06 years). Each group was divided into 5 male and 5 female donkeys. Measurements of the RT were recorded with a digital thermometer probe (model HI935007, Hanna Instruments), which was inserted into the rectum at varying depths of 3.5, 7, 10.5, and 14 cm in the same animal in each group. There was a gradual increase in the RT in donkeys as the depth of insertion was increased from 3.5 cm (36.60°C) to 14 cm (38.40°C). Data obtained from the study were subjected to repeated-measures analysis of variance, followed by Tukey's post-hoc test to compare mean values between different depths of RT measurements. Overall, there was a variation in the RT by the depth of insertion with the shallow depth of 3.5 cm having a lower RT than the depths of 7, 10.5, and 14 cm. The variation of the RT observed in donkeys showed that there is need to standardize the probe-insertion depth in veterinary clinical practice for accurate measurement of the RT in donkeys in the Northern Guinea savannah zone of Nigeria.
Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2020-05-30 PubMed ID: 32797777DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2020.103147Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research study aimed to understand how the depth of a thermometer probe influences the measured rectal temperature of donkeys during hot, dry weather in Nigeria. The study concluded that increased insertion depth resulted in progressively higher temperature readings, suggesting a need to standardize insertion depths for accurate temperature readings in veterinary practice.
Study Setup and Methodology
- The study involved thirty donkeys, divided into three groups based on age – group I were foals, group II were yearlings, and group III were adults.
- Each group contained an equal number of male and female donkeys. Each individual donkey had its rectal temperature recorded with a digital thermometer probe.
- The thermometer was inserted into the rectum at four different depths – 3.5cm, 7cm, 10.5cm, and 14cm – in each animal across the groups.
Results and Conclusion
- The data revealed a gradual uptick in rectal temperature as the thermometer probe was inserted deeper, from 3.5cm (36.60°C) to 14cm (38.40°C).
- The recorded data underwent a thorough examination involving a repeated-measures analysis of variance.
- Following this, Tukey’s post-hoc test was utilized for comparing mean values between the different insertion depths for temperature measurements.
- The study discovered that rectal temperature readings varied depending on the depth of probe insertion; shallower insertion (3.5cm) resulted in lower temperatures than the heights of 7cm, 10.5cm, and 14cm.
Implications of the Study
- The variation in rectal temperature based on the insertion depth indicates the necessity of standardizing the insertion depth during veterinary clinical practices.
- Standardizing the depth will lead to more accurate temperature recordings, which could be critical for accurate diagnoses and treatments.
- The conclusions from the study apply specifically for donkeys in the Northern Guinea savannah zone of Nigeria under conditions of hot, dry weather.
Cite This Article
APA
Zakari FO, Avazi DO, Ayo JO.
(2020).
Effect of the Depth of Insertion of the Thermometer on the Rectal Temperature of Donkeys During the Hot-Dry Season in a Tropical Savannah.
J Equine Vet Sci, 92, 103147.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2020.103147 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Physiology, Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Jos, PMB 2084 Jos, Nigeria. Electronic address: fridayzakari@gmail.com.
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Surgery and Radiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Jos, PMB 2084 Jos, Nigeria.
- Department of Veterinary Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, PMB 1045, Zaria, Nigeria.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Equidae
- Female
- Horses
- Male
- Nigeria
- Seasons
- Temperature
- Thermometers
Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- De Santis M, Seganfreddo S, Greco A, Normando S, Benedetti D, Mutinelli F, Contalbrigo L. Donkey Heart Rate and Heart Rate Variability: A Scoping Review.. Animals (Basel) 2023 Jan 25;13(3).
- Ayo JO, Ake AS. Modulatory roles of melatonin on respiratory and heart rates and their circadian rhythmicity in donkeys (Equus asinus) subjected to packing during the hot-dry season.. Curr Res Physiol 2022;5:381-388.
- Kang H, Zsoldos RR, Skinner JE, Gaughan JB, Mellor VA, Sole-Guitart A. The Use of Percutaneous Thermal Sensing Microchips to Measure Body Temperature in Horses during and after Exercise Using Three Different Cool-Down Methods.. Animals (Basel) 2022 May 14;12(10).
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