title: The use of radiotelemetry to assess the time needed to acclimatize guineapigs following several hours of ground transport.
abstract: The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of ground transportation on guineapigs. Physiological parameters, i.e. heart rate (HR), body temperature (BT) and activity (ACT), were measured before and after transport, using previously implanted radiotelemetry transmitters. Body weight was measured before and after transport. After a postsurgical recovery period and data recording at the breeder's facility, the animals were transported for 2.25 h (Group 1) and for 7.5 h (Group 2) to a different animal facility. Data collection started immediately after arrival at the second animal facility. All parameters measured changed significantly after transport. These results suggest that a 10- to 12-day period is required for guineapigs to return to pre-transport levels of HR, BT and ACT.
authors.affiliation: Harlan Nederland, Horst, The Netherlands. Sstemkens@harlan.com
authors.forename: Sylvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stemkens-Sevens
authors.forename: Kees
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: van Berkel
authors.forename: Inge
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: de Greeuw
authors.forename: Berber
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Snoeijer
authors.forename: Klaas
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kramer
mesh_terms: D000064:Acclimatization; D000827:Animal Welfare; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D001831:Body Temperature; D001835:Body Weight; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs / Q000502:physiology*; D006339:Heart Rate; D013312:Stress, Physiological; D013686:Telemetry / Q000379:methods*; D014186:Transportation