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Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2019; 9(3); 84; doi: 10.3390/ani9030084

The Use of Infrared Thermography (IRT) as Stress Indicator in Horses Trained for Endurance: A Pilot Study.

Abstract: The aim of this pilot study was to document the effects of endurance training at different intensities on heart rate (HR), blood count, serum cortisol, and maximal temperatures of different body locations, namely eye, crown, pastern pasterns, and muscle (, measured by infrared thermography technique (IRT) in horses trained for endurance. Possible associations among the studied parameters were also investigated. Our hypothesis was that temperature, measured by IRT after endurance training of different intensities would vary depending on the intensity and would be positively correlated with HR and serum cortisol. Eight horses were tested before and after training of different intensities (low, moderate, and high). The results partially supported our hypothesis; all the studied parameters increased after training ( < 0.05), eye temperature (ET) correlated positively with HR ( < 0.01), and crown temperature (CT) correlated positively with cortisol ( < 0.01). However, only HR and white blood cells increased with the intensity of the exercise ( = 0.0016 and = 0.0142, respectively). Our findings suggest the evaluation of ET and CT may become a useful non-invasive tool to detect physiological stress during training and to evaluate how the horses cope with the training. Infrared thermography technique may also become a useful tool for the early identification of horses that are not fit to compete or to continue the competition. However, further studies should be conducted on a larger number of horses and during competitions to ascertain our preliminary findings.
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Publication Date: 2019-03-07 PubMed ID: 30866503PubMed Central: PMC6466296DOI: 10.3390/ani9030084Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

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.

The research article discusses a study investigating the effectiveness of Infrared Thermography (IRT), a non-invasive method, as a stress indicator in endurance trained horses. The study evaluates the correlation between changes in body temperature, measured by IRT, with heart rate and blood cortisol levels post-training.

Objective of the Study

  • The research was aimed at assessing the effects of endurance training at varying intensities on horses. The parameters studied were heart rate, blood count, serum cortisol levels and temperatures at different body locations, namely the eye, crown, pasterns and muscle, measured using the Infrared Thermography technique (IRT).
  • The study also sought to examine possible relationships between these parameters. The authors hypothesized a positive correlation between the body temperature (measured by IRT), heart rate, and serum cortisol after endurance training.

The Study Process

  • Eight horses were used in this study. The horses were observed and tested both before and after training sessions of varied intensities – low, moderate, and high.

Results of the Study

  • The results partially supported the initial hypothesis. All the measured parameters showed an increase after training, with eye temperature (ET) showing a positive correlation with heart rate and crown temperature (CT) correlating positively with cortisol levels.
  • However, only the heart rate and white blood cell counts were seen to increase in line with the intensity of the workout. This was significant and suggested a heightened stress response in horses after endurance training.

Implications of the Findings

  • The findings suggest that the evaluation of ET and CT could be a useful non-invasive method to detect physiological stress during horse training and to assess how horses cope with stress.
  • In addition, Infrared thermography technique (IRT) could be a potential tool for early detection of horses unfit for competition or to continue competition based on their physiological responses.
  • Nonetheless, the authors suggest further studies with larger sample sizes and during competitions to verify these preliminary findings.

Cite This Article

APA
Redaelli V, Luzi F, Mazzola S, Bariffi GD, Zappaterra M, Nanni Costa L, Padalino B. (2019). The Use of Infrared Thermography (IRT) as Stress Indicator in Horses Trained for Endurance: A Pilot Study. Animals (Basel), 9(3), 84. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani9030084

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 9
Issue: 3
PII: 84

Researcher Affiliations

Redaelli, Veronica
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine (DIMEVET), University of Milan, 20133 Milano, Italy. veronica.redaelli@unimi.it.
Luzi, Fabio
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine (DIMEVET), University of Milan, 20133 Milano, Italy. fabio.luzi@unimi.it.
Mazzola, Silvia
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine (DIMEVET), University of Milan, 20133 Milano, Italy. silvia.mazzola@unimi.it.
Bariffi, Gaia Dominique
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine (DIMEVET), University of Milan, 20133 Milano, Italy. gaia.bariffi@libero.it.
Zappaterra, Martina
  • Department of Agricultural and Food Science (DISTAL), University of Bologna, 40127 Bologna, Italy. martina.zappaterra2@unibo.it.
Nanni Costa, Leonardo
  • Department of Agricultural and Food Science (DISTAL), University of Bologna, 40127 Bologna, Italy. leonardo.nannicosta@unibo.it.
Padalino, Barbara
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, 70010 Bari, Italy. barbara.padalino@uniba.it.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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