Introduction of the use of thermography and thermometry in the diagnosis of uveitis in horses: a pilot project

Abstract

Aims and objectivesTo date assessment of changes in ocular temperature, as a hallmark of uveitis in horses has not been determined. Therefore the aim of the current study was to determine whether ocular temperature is increased in acute uveitic eyes compared with non-uveitic eyes, and to compare an affordable thermometry device with a thermography device.Material and methodsOcular temperatures of both eyes of five horses with acute unilateral uveitis and 10 normal horses were measured using thermometry and thermography. Presence and absence of acute uveitis were diagnosed through a complete ophthalmological examination. Ambient temperature and core body temperature were also recorded.ResultsThe difference in temperatures between uveitic eyes and non-uveitic eyes was marked but not statistically significant (mean thermography temperature 34.0°C sd±1.6°C and 32.7°C sd±2.4°C, respectively v mean thermometry temperature 34.0°C sd±1.9°C and 31.6°C sd±3.1°C, respectively). No influence of core body temperature on either method was detected. Thermography was less influenced by ambient temperature than was thermometry.ConclusionIn conclusion uveitic eyes are not significantly warmer than non-uveitic eyes. Despite the lack of significance, a tendency towards increased ocular temperature in uveitic eyes, compared with non-uveitic eyes was noted. Therefore more research on this topic is warranted.

Rectal temperature and body surface temperature rhythm in Red Sokoto goats infected with <i>Trypanosoma evansi</i> during the rainy season

“…The infrared thermometer has an up to 12:1 distance to spot which measures the temperature of a 1-inch diameter circle of surface area from 12 inches away (Ramey et al, 2011;Rushton et al, 2015;Minka & Ayo, 2016).…”

Thermographic Examination of the Horse

“…Horses with an acute increase in eye temperature and/or heart rate are under greater stress and therefore more prone to errors that occur during competition [58]. Unfortunately, this method has not been shown to be reliable in another region, such as determining uveitis, because the slightly elevated measured temperature of the diseased eye is usually not different from the temperature of the healthy eye [59]. Thus, several studies have been published in the fi eld of ophthalmology that addressed the problem from different angles, either to determine temperature, infl ammation, or as an indicator of physiological stress, but there is currently insuffi cient evidence to link eye temperature to other accepted measures of core equine temperature [60].…”

Thermography in posterior scleritis

“…По мере технического совершенствования аппаратуры [10,11] когда стало возможным использование бесконтактных приборов для проведения термографии в офтальмологии, стали появляться исследования, демонстрирующие важную роль этого метода при таких патологиях, как синдром «сухого глаза», передний увеит и другие заболевания, обусловленные изменениями глазной поверхности [11][12][13]. Установлено, что при синдроме «сухого глаза» ТГП может снижаться [11].…”