Biological Sampling & Physiological Measurement

A minimally invasive marine mammal sex determination method using epidermal tissue recovered from suction-cup tags (2025)

For many baleen whales, minimal sexual dimorphism means that sex cannot necessarily be reliably determined through observation alone. Suction cup tags deployed for behavioral studies of free-ranging whales sometimes retain exfoliated epidermal tissue from the tagged animal that can potentially...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Biological Sampling & Physiological MeasurementAnimal Type: Marine Mammal

Citation: Novak, S. X., Linsky, J. M. J., Knapp, K. J. et al. 2025. A minimally invasive marine mammal sex determination method using epidermal tissue recovered from suction-cup tags. PLOS ONE 20(5), e0323658.

Analysis of the reliability of feather sections for corticosterone measurement in pekin ducks

The aim of this study was to identify the feather section, among the whole feather, rachis, and vane, with the highest reliability for corticosterone measurement in 10 Pekin ducks aged 42 days. In total, 60 samples (i.e., 20 per section)...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Biological Sampling & Physiological MeasurementAnimal Type: Bird, Fowl

Citation: Lim, S.-J., Kim, C. H., Yang, K. Y. et al. 2025. Analysis of the reliability of feather sections for corticosterone measurement in pekin ducks. Animals 15(2), 138.

A positive-reinforcement training regimen for refined sample collection in laboratory pigs (2025)

Positive-reinforcement training of laboratory pigs can reduce the reliance on forced manual restraint and anaesthesia for sample collection, reducing stress and physiological disruption. Training regimens for laboratory pigs typically rely on specialised equipment for restraint, such as Panepinto slings, with...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Animal Training, Biological Sampling & Physiological Measurement, RestraintAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Layton, R., Beggs, D., Fisher, A. et al. 2025. A positive-reinforcement training regimen for refined sample collection in laboratory pigs. Animals 15(4), 471.

Testing the level of cortisol in dogs (2025)

This paper focuses on cortisol levels in different dog matrices, emphasising the importance of non-invasive sampling for animal welfare and research ethics. The study reviewed over 18,000 articles from various databases, identifying 78 relevant studies that met the inclusion criteria....

Year Published: 2025Topics: Biological Sampling & Physiological MeasurementAnimal Type: Dog

Citation: Kaszycka, K., Goleman, M., Krupa, W. 2025. Testing the level of cortisol in dogs. Animals 15(9), 1197.

Enhancing stress assessment in sledge reindeer (Rangifer tarandus): A pilot study on infrared thermal imaging and its opportunities for advancement as a welfare assessment tool

Measuring immediate physiological stress responses in animals can be challenging; saliva and blood sampling, while invasive, may also generate confounding stress responses, and equipping animals with heart rate sensors is not always feasible. Nevertheless, emerging technologies offer a non-invasive and...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Biological Sampling & Physiological Measurement, Human-Animal InteractionAnimal Type: Other Animal

Citation: Liehrmann, O., Ollila, A., Lummaa, V. et al., 2024. Enhancing stress assessment in sledge reindeer (Rangifer tarandus): A pilot study on infrared thermal imaging and its opportunities for advancement as a welfare assessment tool. Animal Behavior and Cognition 11(3), 293-304.

A new research tool for use in sharks and rays: Relevance of reproductive hormone levels in the skin of small-spotted catshark (Scyliorhinus canicula) (2025)

The present study marks a significant step forward in validating the use of skin biopsies for measuring reproductive steroid hormones in sharks. Given the conservation concerns surrounding many chondrichthyan species and the growing emphasis on adhering to the 3R principles...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Biological Sampling & Physiological MeasurementAnimal Type: Fish, Shark & Ray

Citation: Carbajal, A., Lobato, I. G., Agustí, C. et al. 2025. A new research tool for use in sharks and rays: Relevance of reproductive hormone levels in the skin of small-spotted catshark (Scyliorhinus canicula) (2025). Animals 15(5), 762.

Long term ear and saphenous cannulation to perform blood sampling over longer periods using the Seldinger technique (2024)

The standard practice to collect a blood sample from a Minipig is to invert the animal onto its back and into a cradle. The blood sample is then collected via jugular venepuncture. This technique can cause large amounts of stress...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Biological Sampling & Physiological Measurement, Cannulation, Catheterization, & IntubationAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Bailey, G., Simpson, T., Sharpe, J. 2024. Long term ear and saphenous cannulation—To perform blood sampling over longer periods using the Seldinger technique. Animal Technology and Welfare 23(3), 217–218.

Non-invasive sampling methods for genotyping: Improvements towards the 4r principle

In research involving genetically modified mice which is usually to perform genotyping using invasive ear or tail biopsies in 92% of cases, there is a growing shift towards non-invasive sampling techniques such as oral swabs, hair, faeces and tears. Our...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Biological Sampling & Physiological Measurement, Identification MethodAnimal Type: Mouse, Rabbit, Rodent

Citation: Thasian-Sivarajah, S., Mohr, R., Walter, M. et al. 2024. Non-invasive sampling methods for genotyping: Improvements towards the 4r principle. Animal Technology and Welfare 23(2), 133–136.

A novel approach for contactless heart rate monitoring from pet facial videos

Introduction: Monitoring the heart rate (HR) of pets is challenging when contact with a conscious pet is inconvenient, difficult, injurious, distressing, or dangerous for veterinarians or pet owners. However, few established, simple, and non-invasive techniques for HR measurement in pets...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Biological Sampling & Physiological MeasurementAnimal Type: Cat, Dog

Citation: Hu, R., Gao, Y., Peng, G. et al. 2024. A novel approach for contactless heart rate monitoring from pet facial videos. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 11.

Novel method to investigate thermal exchange rates in small, terrestrial ectotherms: A proof-of-concept on the gecko Tarentola mauritanica

Thermoregulating ectotherms may resort to different external heat sources to modulate their body temperature through an array of behavioural and physiological adaptations which modulate heat exchange with the environment and its distribution across the animal's body. Even small-bodied animals are...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Biological Sampling & Physiological MeasurementAnimal Type: Lizard, Reptile

Citation: Mochales-Riaño, G., Barroso, F. M., Marques, V. et al. 2024. Novel method to investigate thermal exchange rates in small, terrestrial ectotherms: A proof-of-concept on the gecko Tarentola mauritanica. PLOS ONE 19(12), e0316283.