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Sensor technologies support routine observations of animals in infectious disease studies
The use of sensor technologies such as accelerometers and video to monitor the behaviour of sheep infected with Toxoplasma gondii has added value to routine behavioural observations. “One of the main advantages of using sensor technology is the continuity compared to the momentary observation during visual inspection”, says researcher Harmen Doekes of Wageningen Bioveterinary Research (WBVR) and the chair group Animal Breeding and Genomics (ABG), parts of Wageningen University & Research.
Additional insights
“The sensor technologies we applied in this research offered additional insights compared to routine observations, such as around-the-clock behavioural records and detailed individual data of animals”, says Harmen Doekes, researcher at WBVR and ABG. Besides that, due to the continuous observation using sensor technology, it was possible to more accurately quantify (changes in) activity and drinking behaviour. “Using sensor technology, we found reduced activity between day 4 and 10 after Toxoplasma gondii infection, whereas animal caretakers only noticed that the sheep were lethargic from day 5 to day 7, to give an example.”
Potential
While the researchers recognise the challenges and pitfalls of sensor technologies, based on the outcome of this research, they recommend a wider implementation of these tools, especially in animal disease trials.