Perspective review of optical imaging in welfare assessment in animal-based research

Carina B. Pereira; Janosch Kunczik; André Bleich; Christine Haeger; Fabian Kiessling; Thomas Thum; René Tolba; Ute Lindauer; Stefan Treue; Michael Czaplik

doi:10.1117/1.JBO.24.7.070601

8 July 2019 Perspective review of optical imaging in welfare assessment in animal-based research

Carina B. Pereira, Janosch Kunczik, André Bleich, Christine Haeger, Fabian Kiessling, Thomas Thum, René Tolba, Ute Lindauer, Stefan Treue, Michael Czaplik

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Journal of Biomedical Optics, Vol. 24, Issue 7, 070601 (July 2019). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.JBO.24.7.070601

Abstract

To refine animal research, vital signs, activity, stress, and pain must be monitored. In chronic studies, some measures can be assessed using telemetry sensors. Although this methodology provides high-precision data, an initial surgery for device implantation is necessary, potentially leading to stress, wound infections, and restriction of motion. Recently, camera systems have been adapted for animal research. We give an overview of parameters that can be assessed using imaging in the visible, near-infrared, and thermal spectrum of light. It focuses on heart activity, respiration, oxygen saturation, and motion, as well as on wound analysis. For each parameter, we offer recommendations on the minimum technical requirements of appropriate systems, regions of interest, and light conditions, among others. In general, these systems demonstrate great performance. For heart and respiratory rate, the error was <4 beats / min and 5 breaths/min. Furthermore, the systems are capable of tracking animals during different behavioral tasks. Finally, studies indicate that inhomogeneous temperature distribution around wounds might be an indicator of (pending) infections. In sum, camera-based techniques have several applications in animal research. As vital parameters are currently only assessed in sedated animals, the next step should be the integration of these modalities in home-cage monitoring.

CC BY: © The Authors. Published by SPIE under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Unported License. Distribution or reproduction of this work in whole or in part requires full attribution of the original publication, including its DOI.

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Carina B. Pereira, Janosch Kunczik, André Bleich, Christine Haeger, Fabian Kiessling, Thomas Thum, René Tolba, Ute Lindauer, Stefan Treue, and Michael Czaplik "Perspective review of optical imaging in welfare assessment in animal-based research," Journal of Biomedical Optics 24(7), 070601 (8 July 2019). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.JBO.24.7.070601

Received: 27 March 2019; Accepted: 30 May 2019; Published: 8 July 2019

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