Thermal reference points as an index for monitoring body temperature in marine mammals

BMC Research Notes

José Manuel Sánchez-Vizcaíno²  Daniel García-Párraga¹  Ana Rubio-García²  Víctor Rodríguez-Prieto²  Mar Melero² 

[1] Veterinary Services, Oceanografic, Parques Reunidos Valencia, Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias, Valencia, 46013, Spain;VISAVET Center, Veterinary School, Complutense University of Madrid, Avenida Puerta de Hierro, s/n., Madrid, 28040, Spain

关键词: Pinnipeds;    Cetaceans;    Eye temperature;    Blowhole temperature;    Thermal pattern;    Thermography;   

Others  :  1230370
DOI  :  10.1186/s13104-015-1383-6

 received in 2014-01-16, accepted in 2015-08-24,  发布年份 2015

【 摘 要 】

Background

Monitoring body temperature is essential in veterinary care as minor variations may indicate dysfunction. Rectal temperature is widely used as a proxy for body temperature, but measuring it requires special equipment, training or restraining, and it potentially stresses animals. Infrared thermography is an alternative that reduces handling stress, is safer for technicians and works well for untrained animals. This study analysed thermal reference points in five marine mammal species: bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus); beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas); Patagonian sea lion (Otaria flavescens); harbour seal (Phoca vitulina); and Pacific walrus (Odobenus rosmarus divergens).

Results

The thermogram analysis revealed that the internal blowhole mucosa temperature is the most reliable indicator of body temperature in cetaceans. The temperatures taken during voluntary breathing with a camera held perpendicularly were practically identical to the rectal temperature in bottlenose dolphins and were only 1 °C lower than the rectal temperature in beluga whales. In pinnipeds, eye temperature appears the best parameter for temperature control. In these animals, the average times required for temperatures to stabilise after hauling out, and the average steady-state temperature values, differed according to species: Patagonian sea lions, 10 min, 31.13 °C; harbour seals, 10 min, 32.27 °C; Pacific walruses, 5 min, 29.93 °C.

Conclusions

The best thermographic and most stable reference points for monitoring body temperature in marine mammals are open blowhole in cetaceans and eyes in pinnipeds.

【 授权许可】

   
2015 Melero et al.

【 图 表 】

Fig.1.

Fig.2.

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