The European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) is the most common mammal species admitted to rescue centres in the UK. The temperature of a new admission is useful in assessing health status, hypothermia can indicate shock or impaired health, assessing this can be challenging due to their ability to curl tightly. Measuring body temperature using conventional rectal thermometers is not possible. In order to improve welfare and to maximise successful rehabilitation, it is important to incorporate new technology and understanding into husbandry, assessment and diagnostic protocols and practices used within these rescue centres. This study assessed and diagnosed hypothermia, a common condition of new arrivals as a result of shock, using corneal temperature as recorded by a FLIR E60bx infrared camera, at Prickles and Paws Hedgehog Rescue Centre, Cubert, Cornwall. Corneal temperatures were recorded ranging from 14.3 to 37.4 °C. The thermal camera provided greater accuracy over observational diagnosis made by rescue centre staff, with a significant difference between diagnostic categories, demonstrating misdiagnosis by observation alone of 42% of individuals.. There was a higher mortality within those diagnosed by IRT to be 'mildly hypothermic' or 'hypothermic', with death occurring within 72 h of diagnosis. These findings provide a basis for further research into the treatment of hypothermia in E. europaeus now that temperature can be more accurately assessed by non-invasive methods.

中文翻译：

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使用红外热像仪诊断欧洲刺猬 Erinaceus europaeus 体温过低

欧洲刺猬 (Erinaceus europaeus) 是英国救援中心最常见的哺乳动物。新入院的体温有助于评估健康状况，体温过低可能表明休克或健康受损，由于它们能够紧紧卷曲，因此评估这可能具有挑战性。使用传统的直肠温度计测量体温是不可能的。为了提高福利并最大限度地成功康复，将新技术和理解纳入这些救援中心使用的饲养、评估和诊断协议和实践中是很重要的。本研究使用 FLIR E60bx 红外热像仪记录的角膜温度，评估并诊断体温过低，这是新来者因休克而出现的常见状况，位于库伯特的刺猬刺猬救援中心，康沃尔。记录的角膜温度范围为 14.3 至 37.4 °C。与救援中心工作人员所做的观察诊断相比，热像仪提供了更高的准确性，诊断类别之间存在显着差异，表明仅通过观察就有 42% 的个体误诊。 IRT 诊断为“轻度体温过低”的患者死亡率更高'或'体温过低'，在诊断后 72 小时内死亡。由于可以通过非侵入性方法更准确地评估温度，这些发现为进一步研究欧洲大肠杆菌体温过低的治疗提供了基础。诊断类别之间存在显着差异，仅通过观察就有 42% 的个体被误诊。IRT 诊断为“轻度体温过低”或“体温过低”的患者死亡率更高，在诊断后 72 小时内死亡。由于可以通过非侵入性方法更准确地评估温度，这些发现为进一步研究欧洲大肠杆菌体温过低的治疗提供了基础。诊断类别之间存在显着差异，仅通过观察就有 42% 的个体被误诊。IRT 诊断为“轻度体温过低”或“体温过低”的患者死亡率更高，在诊断后 72 小时内死亡。由于可以通过非侵入性方法更准确地评估温度，这些发现为进一步研究欧洲大肠杆菌体温过低的治疗提供了基础。