Application of infrared thermography for animal health study

Abstract

Infrared thermography (IRT) is an advanced, safe, non-invasive, and contactless technology used to determine the surface temperature of an object. Thermal cameras absorb the infrared radiation generated by the surface, then transform it into electrical signals, and provide a thermal image of the body's surface temperature distribution. In addition to human medicine, IRT has mostly been used in veterinary medicine for diagnostic purposes and to detect distress in an animal. However, IRT can be a very effective technique for livestock and poultry breeding research viz. thermoregulation, reproduction, animal welfare, etc. Before preclinical testing, it is crucial to intervene to reduce the stress levels in experimental animals for the betterment of the experimental outcome. Where the infrared thermography could help us to monitor and assess the health status or the stress level in addition to behavioral and physiological parameters before the pre-clinical testing might be beneficial for better outcome and reproducibility. Therefore, this manuscript reviews the recent advances in infrared thermography and its use in animal science.