Acta Vet. Brno 2024, 93: 439-446
The use of infrared thermography in the evaluation of acute stress in three breeds of domestic rabbits during tattooing
Infrared thermography is a relatively new tool used in the evaluation of stress and health disorders in animals. This study aimed to assess changes in rabbit temperature in response to acute stress. The mean surface temperature of the inner corner of the eye was measured using a thermal camera in 12 rabbits of 3 breeds (four individuals of Mecklenburger Piebald Rabbit, Castor Rex Rabbit, and Large Light Silver Rabbit each) exposed to handling and tattooing of the ears. The mean surface temperature and the standard deviation in the inner corner of the eye in rabbits measured in their home cage was 36.75 ± 1.02 °C and was significantly lower (P < 0.01) than that measured during subsequent handling, tattooing and restraint. It was also lower in comparison with the mean temperature measured 30 min after tattooing when the rabbits were returned to the home cage (37.78 ± 0.54 °C). The surface temperature increased (P < 0.01) in response to handling when the rabbits were removed from the cage (38.22 ± 0.42 °C), and reached a maximum during tattooing (38.62 ± 0.52 °C). No significant difference was determined between the breeds (P > 0.05) at any stage of measurement. Changes in the surface temperature of the inner corner of the eye in rabbits took the same course in all three studied breeds of rabbits. An increase in temperature occurred during the initial handling of rabbits unaccustomed to human handling, and this increase persisted throughout the entire period of handling associated with tattooing.
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Funding
This study was supported by ITA VETUNI (project no. 2021ITA22). We would like to thank Jaroslav Šebánek and Radek Kadlec for their assisstance and technical support.
