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RESTING
RECTAL TEMPERATURE OF VIETNAMESE POTBELLIED PIGS - Page 2 BY: LINDA K. LORD, DVM, MS; THOMAS E. WITTUM, PH.D.; DAVID E ANDERSON, DVM, MS; DALE RIFFLE; SARAH L LATHROP, DVM, PH.D.; MARGARET A LAUDERDALE, MS JAVMA, VOL. 215, NO. 3, AUGUST 1, 1999 Scientific Reports: Original Study |
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Rectal temperatures of the farm potbellied pigs were measured 3 times; the afternoon (between 4:00 and 5:45PM) of day 1, the morning (between 8:00AM and 12:00PM) of day 2, and the evening (between 6:50 and 8:00PM) of day 2. Rectal temperatures were measured by 3 groups of 2 individuals, with 1 person in each group measuring temperatures and the other recording data. During the first temperature recording session, recording personnel randomly selected pig herds to be used. Only pigs that were cooperative while recumbent or standing and did not require any restraint for rectal temperature measurement were used. Rectal temperature was not recorded if the pig was perceived as stressed (e.g., pigs that resisted handling) by the procedure, appeared sick, or showed a change in appetite during the few days prior to the study. During the remaining 2 temperature recording sessions, the same personnel measured rectal temperatures of the same pigs, using the same thermometers that had been used during the first session. For each potbellied pig, the identification number, herd number, session, rectal temperature, personnel group, age and sex were recorded. Statistical Analyses: For the farm population, effects of time of day (session) and age on rectal temperature were assessed by use of multivariate ANOVA procedures for repeated measures. (4) Variables initially included in the model were session, personnel group, sex, and age. Factors not associated with rectal temperature were removed from the model by use of a backward elimination procedure, with a criterion of P< 0.05 for the factor to remain in the model. Potential interactions were tested and removed from the model if not associated with rectal temperature. For the hospital population, effect of age on rectal temperature was assessed by use of ANOVA procedures for repeated measures. Results: The farm population consisted of 85 potbellied pigs (32 female and 53 male) selected from a total of 200 potbellied pigs on the farm. Age of the pigs ranged from 0.86 to 8.31 years ( mean +/- SD, 5.16 +/- 1.56 years). Overall mean rectal temperature of the farm population was 37.6 +/- 0.8C (99.7 +/- 1.5 F; range, 35.1 to 39.6C [95.2 to 103.3F]). Diurnal variation in rectal temperature was found; unadjusted mean rectal temperature varied from 37.2 +/- 0.8C (99.0 +/- 1.5F; range 35.3 to 38.6C [95.5 to 101.5F]) in the morning to 37.7 +/- 0.7C (99.9 +/- 1.3F; range, 35.1 to 39.2C [95.2 to 102.6F]) in the afternoon to 38.1 +/- 0.6C (100.6 +/- 1.0F; range, 36.3 to 39.6C [97.3 to 103.3F]) in the evening. After adjustment for age and repeated sampling, rectal temperatures recorded during the morning were found to be significantly (P < 0.001) lower than temperatures recorded during the afternoon and evening (mean difference, 0.5 and 0.9C [0.9 and 1.6F], respectively), and rectal temperatures recorded during the afternoon were found to be significantly ( P < 0.001) lower than temperatures recorded during the evening (mean difference, 0.4C [0.7F]). We identified an inverse linear relationship between age and rectal temperature, with rectal temperate decreasing significantly (P < 0.05), as age increased. Differences attributable to herd, sex and personnel group did not describe a significant amount of the variability in rectal temperature and did not remain in the final model. |
The hospital population consisted of 27 potbellied pigs (9 females and 18 males). A total of 75 separate visits was recorded for these 27 pigs, with 22 visits (29%) involving sexually intact pigs. Age at time of examination ranged from 0.13 to 8.09 years (3.72 +/- 2.01 years). Mean rectal temperature was 37.6 +/- 0.8C (99.7 +/- 1.5F; range, 34.8 to 39.1C [94.6 to 102.4F]). Significant differences were not found between mean rectal temperatures for male and female pigs (P = 0.82) or between sexually intact and neutered pigs (P = 0.06; Student t-test). Age was inversely related (P < 0.05) to rectal temperature. The consistency of findings for these study populations supports the hypothesis that Vietnamese potbellied pigs may have lower rectal temperatures than the reference ranges reported for domestic pigs, particularly because one population consisted of potbellied pigs living in a nonstressful farm environment and the other consisted of potbellied pigs exposed to the stress of routine procedures performed in a veterinary hospital environment. This suggests that the reference range for rectal temperature in domestic pigs may be inappropriate for potbellied pigs. We observed diurnal variation in rectal temperatures of the farm population of potbellied pigs in this study, with the highest temperatures recorded during the evening. Diurnal variation in body temperature has been documented in other animal species, with as much as a 1.0C (1.8F) difference between morning and late afternoon temperatures. (5) Diurnal variation in core body temperature has also been documented in humans, with variations of 0.5 to 0.7C (0.9 to 1.3F) reported as normal. (6) Lowest temperatures reportedly are recorded at approximately 6:00AM, with higher temperatures recorded in the evening, which is similar to our findings. Although diurnal variations in rectal temperatures of animals are recognized, they are not typically emphasized in veterinary clinical settings. However, it is important to recognize that daily variations in body temperatures are normal for animals, particularly when monitoring temperatures of sick animals and when using body temperatures as a test to screen for disease. Studies in humans have emphasized the importance of standardizing the time of day at which temperature is assessed. (7) Our results suggest that it is important to compare temperatures taken at similar times of day when assessing serial rectal temperature readings in potbellied pigs. Failure to do so may lead to erroneous conclusions about the health of an animal. In this study, we also found that age was inversely related to rectal temperature. Higher temperatures are generally expected in young, growing animals. (1) In a study (8) of Beagles at rest, mean resting rectal temperature of young dogs (5 to 7 years old) were not significantly different from those of old dogs (7 to 10 years old). However, the limited range in dog ages and the definition of "young" versus "old" may have been an inefficient method of detecting an age effect. Rectal temperature of many species may decrease with age because of a decrease in activity and a corresponding decrease in metabolic rate. Further studies that investigate the relationship between age, rectal temperature, and thyroid function might be useful in determining whether a decrease in metabolic rate is associated with a decrease in metabolic rate is associated with a decrease in rectal temperature in older pigs. |
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