Recording body temperature in koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus): a comparison of techniques. Issue 8 (26th July 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Adam, D; Beard, L; Johnston, SD; Nicolson, V; Lisle, A; McKinnon, A; Larkin, R; Theilemann, P; Gillett, A; Brackin, K; FitzGibbon, S; Barth, B; Ellis, W
• Is Part Of: Australian veterinary journal. Volume 96:Issue 8(2018)
• Page Start: 308
• Page End: 311
• Publication Date: 2018-07-26
• Subjects: body temperature -- data logger -- koalas -- rectal temperature -- tympanic temperature -- infrared camera; Veterinary medicine -- Australia -- Periodicals; Veterinary medicine -- Periodicals; Veterinary Medicine -- Periodicals; 636.089
• DOI: 10.1111/avj.12719
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0005-0423

Abstract

Abstract : Objective: Compare the use of four techniques to measure body temperature in koalas: intraperitoneal (thermal data logger and temperature sensitive radio transmitter), rectal (certified thermometer), tympanic (infrared thermometer), and hind foot (infrared camera). Methods: The body temperature data collected concurrently from the intraperitoneal loggers were used as the benchmark in the analyses. Results: The rectal, foot and tympanic methods consistently recorded lower body temperature when compared with the benchmark. There was a strong positive relationship (R 2 = 0.79) between logger and rectal measurements, but no significant relationship between logger and foot or logger and tympanic measurements. Conclusion: Rectal measurements can be used to record internal body temperature, with the caveat that such measurements will generally register a temperature approximately 0.25°C lower than the actual intraperitoneal temperature.