Evaluation of infrared thermography findings in pseudopregnant rabbit

Abstract

In the present study, the diagnostic efficiency of infrared thermography (IRT) implementation in pseudopregnant rabbits, the change of these images in the pseudopregnancy process, and its relationship with serum progesterone (P4) levels were examined. Fourteen healthy female rabbits of New Zealand breed were divided into two study groups. Pseudopregnancy induction was performed in the first study group with GnRH injection (0.2 ml Buserelin acetate, intramuscularly) on the 0 th day of the study (Group 1, n=7). The second group (Group 2, n=7) was given placebo (0.2 ml 0.9% NaCl, intramuscularly). Rectal temperature was taken from all rabbits on days 0-5-10 and 15; eye, nasal tip, and vulvar IRT were applied; and serum P4 values were measured by Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. In the pseudopregnant group, the temperatures of the eyes, nose, and vulva were higher on the 10 th day (P<0.05). While time-dependent eye, nose, vulva, and rectal temperature changes were observed in the pseudopregnant group (P <0.05), it was not observed in the control group (P>0.05). The increase in rectal temperature was only on the 15 th day in the pseudopregnant group (P<0.001). Serum P4 value was high on day 0 in Group 1 (P<0.05), but no change was observed in both groups over time (P>0.05). A significant correlation was observed between the serum P4 value and rectal temperature and the groups (r=-0.32, P<0.05; r=0.35, P<0.01). A significant difference was determined between nasal temperature and rectal temperature (r=0.28, P<0.05). As a result, IRT implementation in rabbits; It was determined that it is useful in noninvasive and rapid monitoring of body temperature and can determine the temperature increase in the eyes, nose and vulva on the 10th day of pseudopregnancy.