Real‐Time Monitoring of the Core Body Temperature of Endurance Horses During Field Exercise. (June 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Verdegaal, E; Jonas, S; Caraguel, C; Franklin, S
• Is Part Of: Equine veterinary journal. Volume 46(2014)Supplement 46
• Page Start: 19
• Page End: 20
• Publication Date: 2014-06
• Subjects: Horses -- Diseases -- Periodicals; 636.108905
• DOI: 10.1111/evj.12267_59
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0425-1644

Abstract

Abstract : Introduction: Continuous monitoring of core body temperature may provide useful information about the thermal response to metabolic heat load and environmental challenges. The aim of this study was to evaluate a telemetric gastrointestinal (GI) pill (Equivital®) measuring gastrointestinal temperature (GT) during endurance exercise. It was hypothesised that a temperature and metabolic heat profile could be established. Methods: The GI pill was administered to 6 horses by nasogastric tube (n = 3) or modified‐drench gun (n = 3), the day before competition. During competition, GT, skin temperature and heart rate (HR) were recorded (by Equivital® belt). Other data collected included body weight and rectal temperature (RT), GPS/HR monitor information, and environmental conditions using a data logger. Metabolic heat production was calculated [1] and GT correlations were explored using simple correlation estimates (P<0.05). Results: Data were collected from 6 horses during 80 km (n = 4 horses) and 100 km (n = 2) competition days with mean data loss of 7.4% (±2.4%). GT profiles showed increasing temperature with cumulative metabolic heat production, and time to reach maximum GT was 2.14–6.29 h (maximum GT range: 38.4–39.5°C). During exercise (7 h 6 min ± 1 h 3 min duration), mean and maximum speeds ranged from 10.1–14.5 km/h and 23.5–30.8 km/h, respectively. No correlation was found between GT and HR, skin, or environment temperature. Maximum GT increased with bodyweight (r = 0.775, P = 0.08). GT was systematically higher than RT (mean difference +0.46°C). Conclusions: GT was recorded successfully during competition with minimal data loss. The GI pill has great potential as a method to further investigate thermoregulation in horses under field conditions. Ethical Animal Research: All studies were performed under the Adelaide Animal Ethics Committee, University of Adelaide. Explicit owner informed consent for participation in this study is not stated.Sources of funding: The equipment for the project was funded by the Faculty of Science 'Grant for minor equipment', University of Adelaide, Australia.Competing interests: none.