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

GHEZZI, MARCELO DANIEL; CERIANI, MARÍA CAROLINA; DOMÍNGUEZ-OLIVA, ADRIANA; LENDEZ, PAMELA ANAHÍ; OLMOS-HERNÁNDEZ, ADRIANA; CASAS-ALVARADO, ALEJANDRO; HERNÁNDEZ-AVALOS, ISMAEL

Animals

Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute

Año: 2024 vol. 14

2076-2615

Simple Summary: The following review is based on the use of infrared thermography as a methodto assess stress-related autonomic activity and its association with cardiovascular and heart ratevariability in domestic animals. Stress-induced hyperthermia is one of the main physiological re-sponses of animals to a stressor. The increase in body temperature activates compensatory peripheralmechanisms to increase heat dissipation and prevent further temperature increases. Changes inskin blood flow cause alterations in cutaneous temperature, alterations that can be assessed throughinfrared thermography and that will be discussed in the present review.Abstract: Most of the responses present in animals when exposed to stressors are mediated by theautonomic 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 alterationsto restore homeostasis. Increase in body temperature in stressed animals also activates peripheralcompensatory mechanisms such as cutaneous vasodilation to increase heat exchange. Since changesin skin blood flow influence the amount of heat dissipation, infrared thermography is suggested asa tool that can detect said changes. The present review aims to analyze the application of infraredthermography as a method to assess stress-related autonomic activity, and their association with thecardiovascular and heart rate variability in domestic animals.