Infrared methodologies for the assessment of skin temperature daily rhythm in two domestic mammalian species.
Abstract: To assess the accuracy of infrared methodologies for daily rhythm monitoring of skin temperature, five clinically healthy Italian Saddle gelding horses, and five not pregnant and not lactating Camosciata goats, were monitored every 4 h over a 48 h period. The horses were housed in individual boxes, while the goats in two indoor pens, under natural photoperiod and natural environmental temperature. In each animal, skin temperature was recorded with the use of a digital infrared camera and a non-contact infrared thermometer, in five regions: neck, shoulder, ribs, flank and croup. Recorded values were compared with the well-established daily rhythm of rectal temperature. Rectal temperature was recorded at the same time by means of a digital thermometer. In horses, a lower value of skin temperature was recorded using the infrared thermometer for the croup region compared to shoulder and flank; a lower value of skin temperature was recorded using thermography for the croup region compared to the shoulder. In goats, a lower value of skin temperature was recorded using the infrared thermometer for the croup region compared to the flank. In both species, higher values of rectal temperature were observed, compared to the temperature recorded at the skin regions using the other two methodologies. Cosinor rhythmometry showed a daily rhythm of rectal and skin temperature recorded using both methodologies in all the examined regions. General linear model (GLM) showed statistically significant effect of breed on all rhythmic parameters; of day of monitoring on amplitude; of site of recording (rectal vs skin regions) on mesor, amplitude and acrophase; and no effect of methodologies used. The results of this study show the differences in rhythmicity of various body regions temperature and their differences in comparison with daily rhythm rectal temperature. The use of infrared methodologies was inaccurate in assessing body core temperature, but its use could be considered for the evaluation of inflammation in the different body sites.
Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2020-07-29 PubMed ID: 32888574DOI: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2020.102677Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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This study investigates the accuracy of using infrared methodologies to monitor the daily rhythm of skin temperature in two types of domestic animals: Italian Saddle gelding horses and Camosciata goats.
Research Methodology
- Researchers observed five healthy Italian Saddle gelding horses and five non-pregnant, non-lactating Camosciata goats.
- Measurements were taken every 4 hours over a 48-hour period. Each animal was housed in individual boxes under natural light and environmental temperatures.
- Skin temperatures were recorded using a digital infrared camera and a non-contact infrared thermometer across five body regions: the neck, shoulder, ribs, flank, and croup.
- For comparison, the rectal temperatures of the animals were measured using a digital thermometer concurrently with the skin temperature readings.
Findings and Observations
- In the horses, lower skin temperatures were observed in the croup region compared to the shoulder and flank when using both the infrared thermometer and the thermography.
- Similarly, in the goats, a lower skin temperature was recorded in the croup region compared to the flank using the infrared thermometer.
- Across both species, rectal temperatures were consistently higher than skin temperatures recorded from the various locations, regardless of methodology used.
- Cosinor rhythmometry analysis revealed a daily rhythm of temperature changes in the rectal and skin regions, observable through both measurement methods.
Statistical Analysis and Results
- A General Linear Model (GLM) showed a statistically significant effect of breed on all rhythmic parameters.
- The day of monitoring had a notable effect on the amplitude of the temperature rhythms.
- The location of the temperature recording (rectal vs. skin) affected the mesor, amplitude and acrophase.
- The methodologies used, however, showed no significant effect on the results.
- The study thus highlighted differences in the daily temperature rhythms of various body regions, compared to rectal temperature rhythms.
Conclusions and Implications
- The results suggest that infrared methodologies fall short in assessing core body temperature accurately when compared to traditional rectal temperature measurement.
- Despite this limitation, the use of infrared methodologies could be useful in evaluating inflammation in different body sites, given the observable variations in temperature rhythms across various regions.
Cite This Article
APA
Giannetto C, Arfuso F, Giudice E, Gianesella M, Fazio F, Panzera M, Piccione G.
(2020).
Infrared methodologies for the assessment of skin temperature daily rhythm in two domestic mammalian species.
J Therm Biol, 92, 102677.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtherbio.2020.102677 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, Polo Universitario Dell'Annunziata, 98168, Messina, Italy. Electronic address: clgiannetto@unime.it.
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, Polo Universitario Dell'Annunziata, 98168, Messina, Italy.
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, Polo Universitario Dell'Annunziata, 98168, Messina, Italy.
- Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padova, Viale Dell' Università 16, 35020, Legnaro, PD, Italy.
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, Polo Universitario Dell'Annunziata, 98168, Messina, Italy.
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, Polo Universitario Dell'Annunziata, 98168, Messina, Italy.
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, Polo Universitario Dell'Annunziata, 98168, Messina, Italy.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Body Temperature
- Circadian Rhythm
- Female
- Goats / physiology
- Horses / physiology
- Infrared Rays
- Photoperiod
- Pregnancy
- Skin Temperature
- Thermography / methods
Citations
This article has been cited 15 times.- Lisboa BRF, da Silva JAR, da Silva WC, Barbosa AVC, Silva LKX, Lourenço-Júnior JB. Evaluation of thermoregulation of horses (Equus caballus) submitted to two methods of post-exercise cooling, in hot and humid climate conditions, in the Eastern Amazon. Front Vet Sci 2023;10:1150763.
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