Thermal imaging technique to measure body temperature in mice wins poster prize

The judges selected a poster by Lindsay Benson from the University of Oxford and the School of Veterinary Medicine and Science at the University of Nottingham, entitled, “Validation of infrared thermography with radiotelemetry as a method of assessing body temperature in mice.”

The winning study shows that thermal imaging can be used to measure body temperature in laboratory mice. The use of infrared thermography, which measures peripheral body temperature, was compared to more a traditional method that measures core body temperature using a telemetry device implanted intraperitoneally. The same patterns of change in body temperature were recorded throughout the study using both the infrared method and the telemetry method.

The thermal imaging method has welfare benefits since the animals do not need to be handled or restrained to measure their temperature. Restraint can be stressful for the animals. Stress can also impact on the study results, so avoiding stress should lead to more reliable scientific findings. The method also allows temperature to be measured in mice which are not suitable for implantation surgery (i.e. pups, transgenic strains, disease models).

The winner will have their expenses paid to allow them to attend a second scientific meeting with their poster, in order to further disseminate their findings and inspire a wider audience to prioritise the 3Rs.

The LASA Winter Meeting was held on 25 – 27 November 2014. Dr Vicky Robinson from the NC3Rs presented the prize at the gala dinner on the evening of the 26 November 2014.