title: Infrared body temperature measurement of mice as an early predictor of death in experimental fungal infections.
abstract: Temperatures of mice were measured using an infrared high performance non-contact thermometer, after the device had been calibrated using implantable microchips containing temperature transponders. Mice were infected with three species of Candida (isolates) and the resultant disseminated infections monitored. Mouse temperatures could be reliably measured using the infrared device and this measurement caused little distress to the mice. We were further able to demonstrate that mice rarely recovered if their body temperature dropped below 33.3 degrees C (sensitivity 68%, specificity 97%). Adoption of a 33.3 degrees C endpoint in fungal sepsis experiments measured by infrared non-contact thermometer would significantly reduce the suffering in the terminal stages of this type of infection model.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, University of Manchester, Hope Hospital, Salford, UK. pwarn@fs1.ho.man.ac.uk
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Warn
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Brampton
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sharp
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Morrissey
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Steel
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Denning
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Priest
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000502:physiology*; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003643:Death; D007259:Infrared Rays; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice / Q000502:physiology*; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000379:methods*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012372:ROC Curve; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms; D016019:Survival Analysis; D015996:Survival Rate; D013821:Thermometers