Identificação de artrite em suíno utilizando imagem termográfica / Identification of arthritis in swine through thermographic image

ABSTRACT

causing pain to animals and it may affect their performance and welfare. Thus, the early diagnosis becomes important to allow appropriate treatment to animals as soon as possible. The aim of this case study was to evaluate the efficiency of use of thermographic images for identifying arthritis or inflammatory processes in pigs. Five pigs were selected as they were suspected to present arthritis in the rear limbs. The surface temperature (ST) was recorded by average of thermographic images using the thermal visor from Testo®. There were calculated the averages of 10 points on the ST of each rear limb of the pigs and compared afterwards using t-Student test with reliability of 95% in order to verify if there were difference between the ST in sound rear limb and the limb presenting edema. The mean ST values were lower (P≤0.05) in the sound limb (33.6°C) than those relating to the limb with edema (35.6°C), slowing the use of thermographic images can turn possible the identification of inflammatory processes in subclinical stage in swine.