Using thermography as a diagnostic tool for omphalitis on newborn calves

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Animal Health
• Diagnostic Imaging

Background:

• Omphalitis is a common condition in newborn calves.
• Early detection of inflammation is crucial for effective treatment.
• Non-invasive diagnostic methods are desirable in veterinary practice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of thermography in detecting inflammatory signs on the skin surface of calves.
• To compare thermographic findings in healthy calves versus those with omphalitis.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a thermal imaging camera to examine the umbilical region of calves.
• Compared thermographic data from 20 healthy calves (control group) and 27 calves with diagnosed omphalitis.
• Analyzed temperature differences in the lateral and abdominal umbilical regions.

Main Results:

• A significant temperature difference (p = 0.002) was observed in the lateral umbilical region between healthy calves (35.7°C ± 1.8) and those with omphalitis (37.0°C ± 1.1).
• No significant temperature difference was found in the abdominal umbilical region.
• The location of the highest temperature differed between the groups.

Conclusions:

• Thermography is effective in identifying skin inflammation associated with omphalitis in newborn calves.
• The method is non-invasive, fast, and safe, supporting veterinary diagnosis.
• Thermography can aid in the early detection of umbilical inflammation in calves.