Rectal Temperature Measurements Research Articles

Evaluating alternative temperature measurement sites in cats within a home environment: A comparison with rectal temperature.

This study aimed to compare rectal temperature (RT) with temperatures measured in the pinna, cornea, medial canthus, gingiva, metacarpal pad and axillary region of cats in a home environment. Five healthy mixed-breed cats (two females and three males) owned by a veterinarian were used. All temperature measurements were conducted by the owner by using an infrared camera in the same room and initiated with the pinna, followed by the cornea, medial canthus, gingiva and metacarpal pad. Subsequently, axillary temperature (AT) and RT were recorded by a digital thermometer, respectively. The time taken for a single AT and RT measurements was recorded. The average measurement time for RT was 17.34±0.89s, with a range of 8-32s, whereas AT measurements took an average of 46.72±1.16s, with a range of 29-69s. AT emerged as a superior alternative measurement site compared to others, exhibiting the lowest bias and the highest proportion of readings within the limits of clinical agreement. The mean difference between RT and AT, with 95% limits of agreement for the differences, was -0.26 (-1.13 to 0.61). Anatomical regions were not all interchangeable with the rectum for assessing body temperature (BT), with AT recording the highest level of agreement with RT. When RT is not possible, AT could be considered as an alternative for monitoring BT in clinically healthy cats that live in a home environment.

Noncontact infrared thermometer measurements offer a reasonable alternative to rectal temperature measurement in afebrile horses.

To assess the repeatability of infrared thermometer temperature readings and evaluate the correlation between digital rectal temperature and infrared thermometer temperatures taken at different locations in healthy afebrile horses. 101 afebrile horses ≥ 1 year old. Digital rectal temperatures and infrared temperatures from the eye, gingiva, neck, axilla, and perineum were obtained in a climate-controlled environment and at 2 outdoor ambient temperatures (study period, November 1, 2021, to April 30, 2023). Infrared temperature measurements were well tolerated by horses, including those resistant to rectal temperature. There was significant correlation between rectal temperature and infrared temperature taken at the perineum (R = 0.57; P < .001) and eye (R = 0.37; P < .001). Infrared temperature measurements were highly repeatable, allowing for calculation of reference ranges for the perineum (36.0 to 37.8 °C) and eye (35.7 to 37.1 °C) in climate-controlled conditions. There was increased variance in outside temperatures compared to climate-controlled conditions for the eye (P = .002), gingiva (P = .047), and perineum (P = .005). While infrared thermometer temperatures were not numerically the same as rectal temperature using a digital thermometer, measurements at the perineum and eye were correlated with rectal temperature readings. Further, the repeatability of infrared readings allows for computation of reference ranges that make the infrared thermometer a viable alternative for the practicing veterinarian when obtaining a temperature in uncooperative horses. The infrared thermometer was reliable outdoors for the eye, but not the perineum. Additional validation of infrared temperature reference ranges in febrile horses and warmer ambient temperatures is warranted.

Technical Report: Development and validation of continuous monitoring system for calves based on commercially available sensor for humans

In the last decade, development of continuous sensor based monitoring systems for farm animals (Precision Livestock Farming (PLF)) has markedly increased with the aim to automate and improve disease detection. In calves, multiple technologies exist, but most detect only a single parameter, and none are available for continuous heart rate and electrocardiogram (ECG). The objective of this paper was to develop and validate a sensor system, derived from a commercially available sensor for humans, for heart (ECG, heart rate), movement (inertial measurement unit with nine degrees of freedom (IMU9)) and temperature data. Data is sent over Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) to a gateway equipped with a built-in camera for monitoring individual calves. The gateway transmits the data using the Message Queuing Telemetry Transport (MQTT) protocol to a server for long term storage. The data can also be shown on a real-time dashboard. Results indicate a very high correlation for heart rate compared with a widely used veterinary sensor (Pearson correlation coefficient (r) = 0.98), and a high level of accuracy for the movement data for lying versus standing detection (94.3 %). However, a lower correlation between sensor temperature and rectal temperature measurements was observed (r = 0.56). In conclusion, the adapted Movesense system exhibits the capability to accurately measure heart rate and detect the position (lying – standing) of calves but was insufficient as such for temperature monitoring. This sensor system has potential not only for disease detection, but equally for continuous, non-invasive heart rate monitoring, which can be used as an indicator (besides others) for animal welfare.

Animal Welfare Assessment and Meat Quality through Assessment of Stress Biomarkers in Fattening Pigs with and without Visible Damage during Slaughter.

The study aimed to investigate the physiological and meat quality differences between Non-Ambulatory, Non-Injured (NANI), and without apparent abnormalities (non-NANI) pigs in a commercial slaughterhouse setting, focusing on the impact of stress and health conditions on the overall well-being and meat quality of the animals. A total of 241 surgically castrated crossbred male pigs from Southern Brazil were analyzed, with 131 non-NANI pigs and 110 NANI pigs. Infrared orbital temperature, rectal temperature, hematological parameters, and meat quality measurements were collected. Statistical analysis included ANOVA tests and principal component analysis (PCA). NANI pigs exhibited significantly higher infrared orbital temperatures and rectal temperature (p < 0.01). Hematological analysis revealed higher levels of hemoglobin, hematocrit, and red blood cells in NANI pigs (p < 0.05). White blood cell count and lactate dehydrogenase were significantly elevated in NANI pigs (p < 0.01), indicating potential infections or inflammatory responses. Meat quality parameters showed that NANI pigs had lower pH values, higher luminosity, and increased drip loss (p < 0.01), reflecting poorer water retention and potential muscle glycogen depletion. The study highlights the physiological and meat quality differences between NANI and non-NANI pigs, emphasizing the impact of stress, health conditions, and handling procedures on the animals. Blood biomarkers proved valuable in assessing physiological stress, immune response, and potential health issues in pigs, correlating with meat quality abnormalities. Utilizing these biomarkers as predictive tools can enhance animal welfare practices and contribute to improving meat quality in the swine industry.

Hypothermic sepsis in time since death estimation - a case report.

Both hyper- and hypothermia are problematic in temperature based forensic time since death estimation. Hyperthermia may occur in infection, traumatic brain injury, and intoxication. Hypothermia is encountered predominantly in exposure. Sepsis may present itself clinically as hypothermic. Sepsis is not uncommon in the forensic setting and mostly occurs in the context of malpractice accusations. There is usually little overlap between sepsis and typical forensic time since death estimation scenarios of violent or otherwise suspicious deaths. In the presented case, hypothermia and time since death estimations did collide. An inmate was found dead in his jail cell. Wardens claimed they had visually approached him alive relatively shortly prior. Rectal temperature measurements, using two separate crime scene thermometers as well as temperature loggers, revealed low rectal temperature at relatively high ambient temperature. These findings suggested a much longer postmortem interval and consequently raised doubts about the stated timeline. The wardens' claims were however confirmed by camera recordings, which also allowed a reasonable estimate of the true time of death. The cause of death was confirmed as septic organ failure at autopsy, which explained low rectal temperature. The presence of WISCHNEWSKI-spots was noted. When the PRISM-method was applied to the temperature recordings, low rectal temperature at the time of death was detected successfully. However, adaptation of the underlying equation for lower "starting temperature" did not produce satisfactory results. It is concluded that even though hypothermia at the time of death may possibly be detected from temperature data, attempts at time since death estimation for cases of hypothermia by adaptation of the equation should be avoided.

Effect of Various Hydration Strategies on Work Intensity and Selected Physiological Indices in Young Male Athletes during Prolonged Physical Exercise at High Ambient Temperatures.

Background: In high temperatures, adequate hydration is vital for sustained physical exercise. This study explores the effect of three hydration strategies on physiological indices and work intensity. Methods: The research involved 12 healthy males who engaged in three test series, each separated by a one-week interval. During the trials, participants underwent a 120 min cycling session in a thermal climate chamber (temperature: 31 ± 2 °C, humidity: 60 ± 3%, air movement: <1 m/s). Measurements of rectal temperature (Tre) and heart rate (HR), and assessment of subjective workload perception, and thermal comfort were made both before and during the exercise. The computation of the physical strain index (PSI) relied on Tre and HR values. Three hydration strategies (isotonic drink, water, and no hydration) were administered before, during, and after the exercise. Results: Regardless of the hydration strategy, the participants' mean body mass decreased as a result of the exercise. Statistically significant differences in HR were observed between the no-hydration and water groups (p < 0.036). The mean PSI values significantly varied between hydration strategies, with the no hydration group exhibiting a higher PSI compared to the isotonic drink or water groups (p < 0.001). Conclusions: All hydration strategies contribute to thermoregulatory processes and mitigate the rise in internal body temperature during sustained physical exercise in elevated ambient temperatures.

Correlation of temperature-sensing microchip and rectal temperature measurements in cats.

Rectal temperature (RT) is the reference standard for clinical evaluation of body temperature in mammals. However, the use of a rectal thermometer to measure temperature can cause stress and other problems, especially in cats. There is a need for clinical techniques that reduce both stress and defensive behavior as part of the provision of better medical care. Subcutaneous temperature-sensing identification microchips fulfil the current legal requirements and provide a reading of subcutaneous temperature (MT). The clinical study tried to determine whether there is agreement between MT and RT in normal (n = 58), hospitalized (n = 26) and sedated/anesthetized (n = 36) cats. Three measurements were taken using both methods (MT and RT) in each cat. Correlation between MT and RT, and differences between MT and RT, were estimated for pairs of data-points from the same individual, and all data pairs in each group were considered overall. There was a strong positive correlation between MT and RT (r = 0.7 to 1.0) (p < 0.0005). The mean differences (d) were always negative and although statistically significant, these d values are likely of no biological importance. The overall d was ‑0.1°C in normal cats (p < 0.0005), -0.1°C in hospitalized cats (p = 0.001) and -0.1°C in sedated/anesthetized cats (p = 0.001). The limits of agreement between MT and RT appear narrow enough for MT to be acceptable estimate of RT. The overall limits of agreement (95%) were ‑0.71°C and 0.53°C (in normal cats); ‑0.51°C and 0.34°C (in hospitalized cats) and ‑0.60°C and 0.42°C (in sedated/anesthetized cats). MT may provide a good alternative to RT measurement in cats. However, this study was mostly performed in animals that were normothermic. Therefore, further studies in larger groups of cats under different conditions are needed to compare trends and assess variation with time.

A new noninvasive technique for heat-flux-based deep body thermometry together with possible estimation of thermal resistance of the skin tissue.

A new noninvasive core-thermometry technique, based on the use of two heat flux sensors with different very low thermal resistances, is proposed. Thermodynamically derived equations, using a pair of skin temperatures and heat fluxes detected from the sensors, can give the estimated deep body temperature (DBT) together with thermal resistance of the skin tissue itself. The validity and accuracy of this method are firstly investigated through in vitro experiments using a tissue phantom model and, secondly, as in vivo comparisons with sublingual (Tsub) or rectal temperature (Trec) measurements in 9 volunteers, attaching the sensors around the upper sternum or the nape. Model experiments showed a good agreement between the measured and estimated temperatures, ranging from approximately 36 to 42 ℃. In vivo experiments demonstrated linear correlations between the estimated DBT and both Tsub and Trec values, though the estimated DBT was 0.13 ℃ higher than Tsub and 0.42 ℃ lower than Trec on average. The results also strongly suggested the possibility to estimate the tissue thermal resistance; this is discussed herein. Although further in vivo experiments under various environmental conditions are necessary, this method appears highly promising as an accurate, useful and convenient core-thermometry system for medical and healthcare settings.

Correlation between rectal and surface temperature measurements in horses – investigating thermography for infection disease screening protocols

Correlation between rectal and surface temperature measurements in horses – investigating thermography for infection disease screening protocols

Evaluate Emotional State Based on Temperature Readings

Abstract Infrared thermography (IRT) allows visualization of temperature changes within the body system of animals due to emotional changes in a fearful situation such as facing an unknown person in their flight distance. Infrared thermography is becoming popular in the research of animal emotions as an objective measure. Stress stimulants activate the autonomic nervous system to secrete adrenaline, which causes the blood vessels to tighten and increase blood flow throughout the body. Infrared thermography quantifies the heat radiation emitted from the body’s surface, which fluctuates depending on the flow of blood below the skin. It has been discovered through a number of studies that IRT of the eyes of lactating dairy cows can more accurately predict their emotional responses than the commonly used rectal temperature and/or other behavioural measures. The IRT of eyes showed the potential to predict negative emotional responses in association with laterality testing, flight speed, waiting time, and other behaviours such as sniffing. The IRT of the eye was a repeatable measure, while rectal temperature was not. Information © The Author 2023

Estimating rectal temperature in exercising horses in a competition environment using infrared thermal imaging

Abstract Short-term intense and or prolonged medium intensity exercise in conditions of moderate-high environmental temperature or temperature and humidity can result in moderate to marked hyperthermia. This in turn may result in decreased exercise capacity, earlier onset of fatigue and increased risk of falls or injury. Early identification of moderate-severe hyperthermia is important to allow appropriate intervention, either before, during or after exercise. Infra-red thermal imaging (IRT) allows measurement of horse surface temperature non-invasively, however it is generally considered to be unreliable in outdoor environments. Collection of pilot data suggested that this modality warranted further investigation. IRT Images were obtained from horses during training and competition at the 2019 Ready Steady Tokyo Olympic equestrian test event (Wet Bulb Globe Temperature [WBGT] &gt; 28 °C), during and after the cross-country at the 2019 Burghley Horse Trials CCI 5* (WBGT 12-15 °C), the 2019 Adelaide International Horse Trials CCI 4* (WBGT ∼ 20 °C) and during the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games (held in 2021; WBGT &gt; 28 °C). A total of 87 paired hindquarter IRT images and rectal temperature measurements were obtained. When all data from all 4 events were pooled the bias and limits of agreement were −0.3 ± 1.1 °C (n = 87), i.e. IRT underestimated rectal temperature. When the data from Ready Steady Tokyo 2019 and Tokyo 2020 were combined as both events took place in similar thermal environmental conditions) the bias and limits of agreement were −0.1 ± 0.8 °C (n = 45). For 29 paired hindquarter thermal images, where a second image was obtained within 15 s, there was no significant difference between the mean of the first and second images (Image 1: 38.9 ± 0.9 °C versus Image 2: 38.7 ± 0.8 °C; ; n = 29). In conclusion, IRT imaging in environmental conditions of high temperature or high temperature and humidity may be useful in identifying horses with moderate to severe hyperthermia.

Instance Segmentation and Ensemble Learning for Automatic Temperature Detection in Multiparous Sows.

The core body temperature serves as a pivotal physiological metric indicative of sow health, with rectal thermometry prevailing as a prevalent method for estimating core body temperature within sow farms. Nonetheless, employing contact thermometers for rectal temperature measurement proves to be time-intensive, labor-demanding, and hygienically suboptimal. Addressing the issues of minimal automation and temperature measurement accuracy in sow temperature monitoring, this study introduces an automatic temperature monitoring method for sows, utilizing a segmentation network amalgamating YOLOv5s and DeepLabv3+, complemented by an adaptive genetic algorithm-random forest (AGA-RF) regression algorithm. In developing the sow vulva segmenter, YOLOv5s was synergized with DeepLabv3+, and the CBAM attention mechanism and MobileNetv2 network were incorporated to ensure precise localization and expedited segmentation of the vulva region. Within the temperature prediction module, an optimized regression algorithm derived from the random forest algorithm facilitated the construction of a temperature inversion model, predicated upon environmental parameters and vulva temperature, for the rectal temperature prediction in sows. Testing revealed that vulvar segmentation IoU was 91.50%, while the predicted MSE, MAE, and R2 for rectal temperature were 0.114 °C, 0.191 °C, and 0.845, respectively. The automatic sow temperature monitoring method proposed herein demonstrates substantial reliability and practicality, facilitating an autonomous sow temperature monitoring.

Physiological, haematological and electroencephalographic responses to heat stress in Katjang and Boer goats

The present study aimed to determine the effect of repeated heat stress on serum levels of cortisol (CORT), acute phase proteins (APP) and heat shock protein (HSP) 70, haematological indicators, and electroencephalographic (EEG) response in the native Katjang and exotic Boer goats. Six female Katjang (15.7 kg ± 0.68) and six female Boer (16.8 kg ± 1.16) goats aged 5 to 6 months old were exposed to 38 ± 1℃ for 8 h, and the procedure was repeated at three different weeks (weeks 1, 2 and 3). Measurements of rectal temperatures and EEG activity and collection of blood samples were conducted before heat exposure (0 h), immediately after the heat exposure (8 h), and 8 h after completion of heat exposure (16 h) (recovery period). The current results revealed that the Boer animals had significantly higher rectal temperatures (RT), haemoglobin (Hb) and packed cell volume (PCV) counts than their Kajang counterparts. There were significant breed × stage of heat treatment (SHT) × week of heat treatment (WHT) interactions for neutrophil to lymphocyte ratios (NLR). In general, the Katjang animals had elevated NLR compared to those of Boer. The Boer goats had reduced capacity to express serum HSP70 compared to their Katjang counterparts following the heat challenge at week 3. Boer goats demonstrated higher delta waves than the Katjang group, which suggested the former were more stressed following the heat exposure. Breed had a negligible effect on CORT, APP, WBC counts and backfat thickness. Our findings suggested that the Katjang breed, as measured by RT, HB and PCV count, and EEG activity, could be more tolerant to heat stress than Boer. The Katjang goats showed higher HSP70 expression than their Boer counterparts, suggesting improved thermoregulation in the former.

A deep learning-based detection method for pig body temperature using infrared thermography

Body temperature is one of the important indicators that reflect the health of pigs. The traditional rectal temperature measurement is inconvenient and time-consuming, and also easy to cause stress responses to pigs. Infrared Thermography (ITG) was supposed to have potentials to realize non-invasive and rapid temperature detection for pigs in intensive pig farming. In this paper, an automatic temperature detection method base on ITG was developed. First, temperatures on six regions on pig body surface (i.e., forehead (FH), eyes, nose, ear root (ET), back and anus) were measured by ITG for the region of interest (ROI) selection; Then, an improved model of YOLOv5s-BiFPN was developed for automatic ROI detection and temperature extraction. A dataset with 2797 images that collected from sixteen pigs for 30 days was used for model development. It was shown that temperatures on FH and ET were supposed to be the ROI for ITG temperature detection and because of their strong correlations with the rectal temperature among the six parts on pig body surface. Also, the maximum temperature (MaxT) on FH and ET could reflect pig’s body temperature variations the best. The proposed model of YOLOv5s-BiFPN achieved optimal performances (e.g., the mAP was 96.36%, outperformance was 20 MB, target detection speed was up to 100 frame/s), and the mAPs were increased by 4.85%, 4.38%, 1.60%, 1.56%, 31.52%, and 22.42% compared with models of CenterNet, Faster R-CNN, YOLOv4, YOLOv5s, Nanodet and YOLOv5n, respectively. Therefore, it is a feasible way for pig body temperature automatic detection and facilitates early staged disease warning and environmental control.

The Risk of Rectal Temperature Measurement in Neutropenia.

Avoiding rectal thermometry is recommended in patients with neutropenic fever. Permeability of the anal mucosa may result in a higher risk of bacteremia in these patients. Still, this recommendation is based on only a few studies. This retrospective study included all individuals admitted to our emergency department during 2014-2017 with afebrile (body temperature <38.3°C) neutropenia (neutrophil count <500 cells/microL) who were over the age of 18. Patients were stratified by the presence or absence of a rectal temperature measurement. The primary outcome was bacteremia during the first five days of index hospitalization; the secondary outcome was in-hospital mortality. The study included 40 patients with rectal temperature measurements and 407 patients whose temperatures were only measured orally. Among patients with oral temperature measurements, 10.6% had bacteremia, compared to 5.1% among patients who had rectal temperature measurements. Rectal temperature measurement was not associated with bacteremia, neither in non-matched (odds ratio [OR] 0.36, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.07-1.77) nor in matched cohort analyses (OR 0.37, 95% CI 0.04-3.29). In-hospital mortality was also similar between the groups. Patients with neutropenia who had their temperature taken using a rectal thermometer did not experience a higher frequency of events of documented bacteremia or increased in-hospital mortality.

Sensitivity of temperature-based time since death estimation on measurement location

Rectal temperature measurement (RTM) from crime scenes is an important parameter for temperature-based time of death estimation (TDE). Various influential variables exist in TDE methods like the uncertainty in thermal and environmental parameters. Although RTM depends in particular on the location of measurement position, this relationship has never been investigated separately. The presented study fills this gap using Finite Element (FE) simulations of body cooling. A manually meshed coarse human FE model and an FE geometry model developed from the CT scan of a male corpse are used for TDE sensitivity analysis. The coarse model is considered with and without a support structure of moist soil. As there is no clear definition of ideal rectal temperature measurement location for TDE, possible variations in RTM location (RTML) are considered based on anatomy and forensic practice. The maximum variation of TDE caused by RTML changes is investigated via FE simulation. Moreover, the influence of ambient temperature, of FE model change and of the models positioning on a wet soil underground are also discussed. As a general outcome, we notice that maximum TDE deviations of up to ca. 2–3 h due to RTML deviations have to be expected. The direction of maximum influence of RTML change on TDE generally was on the line caudal to cranial.

Protective effect of the novel cyclic peptide ASK0912 on mice with sepsis induced by Acinetobacter baumannii

BackgroundSepsis has become a global health concern owing to its increasing incidence and high mortality rate. In the present study, we investigated a novel drug candidate ASK0912 on its protective effects in mice with Acinetobacter baumannii 20–1-induced sepsis, and studied the related mechanisms. Material and methodsTo analyze the protective effect of ASK0912 on septic mice, survival rates, body temperature, organ and blood bacterial loads, white blood cell and platelet counts, organ damage, and cytokine levels were determined. ResultsASK0912 remarkably increased the survival rate of mice with sepsis induced by A. baumannii 20–1 at a low dose of 0.6 mg/kg. Rectal temperature measurements showed that ASK0912 treatment prevented the body temperature decrease of septic mice to some extent. Treatment with ASK0912 can notably reduce the organ and blood bacterial loads and alleviate platelet count reduction due to sepsis. ASK0912 attenuated organ damage, including reduced levels of total bile acids, urea, and creatinine, aggregation of inflammatory cells, and mitigation of structural changes in septic mice, as demonstrated by biochemical analysis and hematoxylin & eosin staining. Additionally, multiplex assay showed that abnormally increased cytokine levels (IL-1β, IL-3, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, IL-13, MCP-1, RANTES, KC, MIP-1α, MIP-1β, and G-CSF) in septic mice decreased after ASK0912 treatment. ConclusionsASK0912 can not only improve the survival rate, hypothermia, lower the bacterial loads in the organs and blood, but also alleviate the pathophysiological manifestations such as intravascular coagulation abnormalities, organ damages, and immune system disorder of sepsis mice induced by A. baumannii 20–1.

Sedative and cardiopulmonary effects of intranasal butorphanol with midazolam or dexmedetomidine in New Zealand white rabbits.

This study aimed to compare the sedative and cardiopulmonary effects of intranasal (IN) administration of dexmedetomidine-butorphanol (DB) and midazolam-butorphanol (MB) combinations in New Zealand white rabbits. Eight New Zealand white rabbits were sedated by IN administration of a combination of 0.1mg/kg dexmedetomidine and 0.4mg/kg butorphanol (DB treatment) and 2mg/kg midazolam and 0.4mg/kg butorphanol (MB treatment). The electrocardiogram, pulse rate (PR), respiratory frequency (fR ), arterial haemoglobin oxygen saturation (SpO2 ), fraction of expired carbon dioxide (EtCO2 ), rectal temperature (RT), noninvasive mean arterial pressure (MAP), noninvasive systolic arterial pressure (SAP) and diastolic arterial pressure (DAP) were recorded. The onset of sedation, duration of sedation and sedation score (SS) were also noted. There were no significant differences in the EtCO2 , RT, MAP, SAP and DAP measurements between treatments. The PR significantly decreased in DB compared with MB over time (p = 0.001). Compared with baseline, SpO2 decreased over time in both treatments. The SS was significantly elevated over time in DB compared with MB (p = 0.002). No pharmacokinetic information was available for either treatment, so the findings should be interpreted cautiously. IN DB provides more effective sedation than MB, but cardiopulmonary impairment was observed in both treatments.

Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Is Involved in the Thermic Effects of Dietary Proteins in Male Rodents.

Protein intake potently increases body temperature and energy expenditure, but the underlying mechanism thereof remains incompletely understood. Simultaneously, protein intake potently stimulates glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) secretion. Here, we examined the involvement of GLP-1 in the thermic effects of dietary proteins in rodents by measuring rectal temperature and energy expenditure and modulating GLP-1 signaling. Rectal temperature of rats or mice fasted for 4 or 5 hours were measured using a thermocouple thermometer before and after an oral administration of nutrients. Oxygen consumption after oral protein administration was also measured in rats. Rectal temperature measurements in rats confirmed an increase in core body temperature after refeeding, and the thermic effect of the oral administration of protein was greater than that of a representative carbohydrate or lipid. Among the five dietary proteins examined (casein, whey, rice, egg, and soy), soy protein had the highest thermic effect. The thermic effect of soy protein was also demonstrated by increased oxygen consumption. Studies using a nonselective β-adrenergic receptor antagonist and thermal camera suggested that brown adipose tissue did not contribute to soy protein-induced increase in rectal temperature. Furthermore, the thermic effect of soy protein was completely abolished by antagonism and knockout of the GLP-1 receptor, yet potentiated via augmentation of intact GLP-1 levels through inhibition of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 activity. These results indicate that GLP-1 signaling is essential for the thermic effects of dietary proteins in rats and mice, and extend the metabolic actions of GLP-1 ensuing from nutrient ingestion to encompass the thermic response to ingested protein.

Could the different estrus periods significantly affect body temperature on clinical examination in bitches?

Clinical examination is essential to make a differential diagnosis list, and body temperature measurement is an indispensable part of the clinical examination. Throughout the estrus cycle, body temperature may fluctuate high enough to affect the clinical examination results. Aim of this study, whether there were any differences between the different estrus periods, body parts (rectal, intravaginal and corneal), and methods (contact thermography and infrared thermography) in regard to temperature in bitches. The animal material of this study consisted of 61 healthy, non-pregnant, non-sportive bitches (2.78 ± 0.22 mean years of age; mean weight 23.81 ± 1.61kg) of different breeds. Corneal temperature measurement results were found the least constant and significant differences were observed between different estrus periods except in the anestrus period. Rectal temperature (RT) measurement results were the most constant. However, in ANOVA analysis, significant differences were observed between the different estrus periods, and the difference between the anestrus and diestrus periods was very close to 0.5 °C. Although, in the Bland-Altman plot analysis, the agreement was observed only between rectal and intravaginal temperature (p: 0.572, r2: 0.70), the limits of agreement were not clinically acceptable. In conclusion, neither corneal temperature measurement with infrared technology nor intravaginal temperature measurement should not be an alternative to RT measurement, and RT measurement results should evaluate carefully considering the estrus period.