PDF(Pubmed)
Abstract：
Sensor technologies are increasingly used to monitor laboratory animal behaviour. The aim of this study was to investigate the added value of using accelerometers and video to monitor the activity and drinking behaviour of three rams from 5 days before to 22 days after inoculation with Toxoplasma gondii. We computed the activity from accelerometer data as the vectorial dynamic body acceleration (VDBA). In addition, we assessed individual drinking behaviour from video, using frame differencing above the drinker to identify drinking bouts, and Aruco markers for individual identification. Four days after inoculation, rams developed fever and activity decreased. The daytime VDBA from days 4 to 10 was 60-80% of that before inoculation. Animal caretakers scored rams as lethargic on days 5 and 6 and, for one ram, also on the morning of day 7. Video analysis showed that each ram decreased its number of visits to the drinker, as well as its time spent at the drinker, by up to 50%. The fever and corresponding sickness behaviours lasted until day 10. Overall, while we recognize the limited conclusiveness due to the small number of animals, the sensor technologies provided continuous, individual, detailed, and objective data and offered additional insights as compared to routine observations. We recommend the wider implementation of such technologies in animal disease trials to refine experiments and guarantee the quality of experimental results.
摘要：
传感器技术越来越多地用于监测实验动物的行为。这项研究的目的是研究使用加速度计和视频监测三只公羊在接种弓形虫前5天至后22天的活动和饮酒行为的附加值。我们根据加速度计数据将活动计算为矢量动态身体加速度（VDBA）。此外,我们从视频中评估个人饮酒行为，使用饮酒者上方的帧差来识别饮酒，和Aruco标记用于个人识别。接种后四天，公羊发烧，活动减少。第4天至第10天的白天VDBA为接种前的60-80％。动物看护人在第5天和第6天将公羊评为昏昏欲睡，对于一个RAM，也是在第7天的早晨。视频分析显示，每个公羊都减少了对饮酒者的访问次数，以及它在饮酒者身上花费的时间，高达50%。发烧和相应的疾病行为持续到第10天。总的来说,虽然我们认识到由于动物数量少，结论有限，传感器技术提供了连续的，个人,detailed,和客观数据，并提供了更多的见解，与常规观察相比。我们建议在动物疾病试验中更广泛地实施此类技术，以完善实验并保证实验结果的质量。
