Thermal profile of rabbits infected with Eimeria intestinalis

Abstract

In this study, infrared thermography (IRT) was assessed as a means of detecting the changes in body temperature in rabbit coccidiosis, as well as determining IRT used in imaging and measuring the regional changes in skin temperature that occur in the rabbits during this infection. Rabbits were inoculated with 5 x 10(4) or 1 x 10(5) oocysts of Eimeria intestinalis, respectively. The group of control animals remained non-inoculated throughout the study. All measured temperatures (rectal, ocular surface and auricle pavilion temperatures) dropped significantly (P<0.05) in rabbits infected with 1 x 10(5) oocysts. This group of rabbits also showed a medium negative correlation in rectal temperature (r=-0.49), ocular surface temperature (r=-0.49) and auricle pavilion temperature (r=-0.49) and a small negative correlation in live body weight gain (r=-0.22) depending on the number of days elapsed from the time of infection exposure.