Noncontact infrared thermometer measurements offer a reasonable alternative to rectal temperature measurement in afebrile horses.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the repeatability of infrared thermometer temperature readings and evaluate the correlation between digital rectal temperature and infrared thermometer temperatures taken at different locations in healthy afebrile horses. ANIMALS: 101 afebrile horses ≥ 1 year old. METHODS: Digital rectal temperatures and infrared temperatures from the eye, gingiva, neck, axilla, and perineum were obtained in a climate-controlled environment and at 2 outdoor ambient temperatures (study period, November 1, 2021, to April 30, 2023). RESULTS: Infrared temperature measurements were well tolerated by horses, including those resistant to rectal temperature. There was significant correlation between rectal temperature and infrared temperature taken at the perineum (R = 0.57; P < .001) and eye (R = 0.37; P < .001). Infrared temperature measurements were highly repeatable, allowing for calculation of reference ranges for the perineum (36.0 to 37.8 °C) and eye (35.7 to 37.1 °C) in climate-controlled conditions. There was increased variance in outside temperatures compared to climate-controlled conditions for the eye (P = .002), gingiva (P = .047), and perineum (P = .005). CLINICAL RELEVANCE: While infrared thermometer temperatures were not numerically the same as rectal temperature using a digital thermometer, measurements at the perineum and eye were correlated with rectal temperature readings. Further, the repeatability of infrared readings allows for computation of reference ranges that make the infrared thermometer a viable alternative for the practicing veterinarian when obtaining a temperature in uncooperative horses. The infrared thermometer was reliable outdoors for the eye, but not the perineum. Additional validation of infrared temperature reference ranges in febrile horses and warmer ambient temperatures is warranted.

Utility of a portable desiccant system for preservation of fecal samples for downstream 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing.

While recent advances in culture-independent sequencing approaches have revitalized the field of microbiology, rapid collection and preservation of microbial DNA in samples like feces is critical to avoid degradation of target DNA via nuclease activity and proliferation of aerotolerant microbes. Common laboratory practices to ameliorate such changes rely on prompt freezing of samples or dispersion in nuclease-inhibiting reagents. As many of the microbial enzymes associated with nuclease activity and bacterial proliferation are hydrolases, prompt desiccation of samples offers an attractive alternative to freezing and liquid reagents for field collection of samples in remote areas. Herein, we evaluated the utility of a portable desiccant chamber with a rechargeable cartridge, for preservation of equine fecal samples for downstream microbial profiling via 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. Controls included matched samples promptly frozen at -80 °C or left at room temperature for an equivalent period of time. While samples held at room temperature showed a significant reduction in richness and proliferation of several facultative anaerobes, desiccated samples showed minimal change from promptly frozen samples, with the exception of increased abundance of Acinetobacter spp. in desiccated samples relative to frozen samples. The data support the utility of portable desiccant chambers for the preservation of microbial field samples intended for downstream sequencing approaches.