Animals (May 2024)

Use of Infrared Thermography and Heart Rate Variability to Evaluate Autonomic Activity in Domestic Animals

  • Marcelo Daniel Ghezzi,
  • María Carolina Ceriani,
  • Adriana Domínguez-Oliva,
  • Pamela Anahí Lendez,
  • Adriana Olmos-Hernández,
  • Alejandro Casas-Alvarado,
  • Ismael Hernández-Avalos

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14091366
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 14, no. 9
p. 1366

Abstract

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Most of the responses present in animals when exposed to stressors are mediated by the autonomic nervous system. The sympathetic nervous system, known as the one responsible for the “fight or flight” reaction, triggers cardiovascular changes such as tachycardia or vasomotor alterations to restore homeostasis. Increase in body temperature in stressed animals also activates peripheral compensatory mechanisms such as cutaneous vasodilation to increase heat exchange. Since changes in skin blood flow influence the amount of heat dissipation, infrared thermography is suggested as a tool that can detect said changes. The present review aims to analyze the application of infrared thermography as a method to assess stress-related autonomic activity, and their association with the cardiovascular and heart rate variability in domestic animals.

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