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. 2016;55(3):331-5.

Comparison of Digital Rectal and Microchip Transponder Thermometry in Ferrets (Mustela putorius furo)

Branden M Maxwell  1 , Marla K Brunell  2 , Cara H Olsen  3 , David E Bentzel  2
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Comparison of Digital Rectal and Microchip Transponder Thermometry in Ferrets (Mustela putorius furo)

Branden M Maxwell et al. J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci. 2016.

Abstract

Body temperature is a common physiologic parameter measured in both clinical and research settings, with rectal thermometry being implied as the 'gold standard.' However, rectal thermometry usually requires physical or chemical restraint, potentially causing falsely elevated readings due to animal stress. A less stressful method may eliminate this confounding variable. The current study compared 2 types of digital rectal thermometers-a calibrated digital thermometer and a common digital thermometer-with an implantable subcutaneous transponder microchip. Microchips were implanted subcutaneously between the shoulder blades of 16 ferrets (8 male, 8 female), and temperatures were measured twice from the microchip reader and once from each of the rectal thermometers. Results demonstrated the microchip temperature readings had very good to good correlation and agreement to those from both of the rectal thermometers. This study indicates that implantable temperature-sensing microchips are a reliable alternative to rectal thermometry for monitoring body temperature in ferrets.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Bland–Altman plot illustrating the difference between calibrated rectal and microchip transponder thermometry. The difference in temperature methods is plotted relative to the pairwise mean. The horizontal reference line at 0 represents no difference between the methods. The dotted lines represent the limits of agreement (mean ± 1.96 SD). Negative values represent rectal temperatures that were lower than the corresponding microchip temperatures.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Bland–Altman plot illustrating the difference between common rectal and microchip transponder thermometry. The difference in temperature methods is plotted relative to the pairwise mean. The horizontal reference line at 0 represents no difference between the methods. The dotted lines represent the limits of agreement (mean ± 1.96 SD). Negative values represent rectal temperatures that were lower than the corresponding microchip temperatures.
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