Evaluations of Tear Secretion in an Outbreak of Escherichia Coli in Lambs With Schirmer Tear Test

Abstract

This study aims to determinate the tear secretion in lambs with colibacillosis and healthy ones by utilizing Schirmer Tear Test. A total of 25 lambs aged between 1-6 days, among which 15 were with Escherichia coli (Group 1, n=15) and 10 were in the healthy conditions (Group 2, n=10). The lambs in the study group were diagnosed for Escherichia coli by using a sheepspecific rapid diagnosis kit before being included in the group. Lambs to be included in the control group were selected from among the lambs that did not show any signs of disease and never had diarrhea after birth. Schirmer Tear Test was performed on both eyes of healthy and Escherichia coli and results were recorded. Group 1 Mean ± SD Schirmer Tear Test values for right and left eye were 6.47±1.55 and 7.33±1.45 mm/min and Group 2 Mean ± SD Schirmer Tear Test values for right and left eye were 15.7±9.07 and 17.5±8.36 mm/min, respectively. Comparison between Schirmer Tear Test values of right eyes and left eyes revealed no significant differences in either of groups (P=0.063, P=0.306). Both eye's Schirmer Tear Test results were combined to compare groups. The mean of Group 1 (6.9±1.54) was found to be significantly lower than the mean of Group 2 (16.6±8.54) as a result (P < 0.001). As a result of this study, the amount of tear secretion was determined with the Schirmer Tear Test and there was a statistically significant difference between healthy and lambs with Escherichia coli.

Normal Range for the Schirmer Tear Test and Intraocular Pressure in Healthy Latvian Darkhead Lambs and Ewes

“…In addition, Akgül et al (2022) compared the STT values of 1-6 days old healthy lambs to lambs with E. coli infection and found that the results were significantly lower for the lambs infected with E. coli. They reported the average values of STT for the healthy lambs to be 16.6 ± 8.54 mm/min in both eyes, higher than in our study [19].…”

“…Several studies have determined the average STT values in healthy ewes of different breeds such as Merino, Chios, Florina, and Lacaune, and in mixed breeds and geographic locations such as Turkey and Greece [4,10,19]. However, Dedousi et al (2019) showed that tear secretion (STT range 10.8-26.2 mm/min) was similar regardless of breed when examined under the same conditions [4].…”