Evaluation of infrared thermography findings in pseudopregnant rabbit

Abstract

The effectiveness of infrared thermography (IRT) in the diagnosis of pseudopregnant rabbits, the change of these images in the pseudopregnancy process, and its relationship with serum progesterone (P4) level was investigated. Fourteen healthy female rabbits of New Zealand breed were divided into two study groups. Pseudopregnancy induction was performed in the first study group with GnRH injection (0.2 ml Buserelin acetate, intramuscularly) on the 0th day of the study (Group 1, n=7). The second group (Group 2, n=7) was given placebo (0.2 ml 0.9% NaCl, intramuscularly). Rectal temperature was taken from all rabbits on days 0-5-10 and 15, eye, nasal tip, and vulvar IRT were applied, and serum P4 valueswere measured by Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. In the pseudopregnant group, the temperatures of the eyes, nose, and vulva were higher on the 10th day (p