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. 2007 Dec;83(3):376-84.
doi: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2007.01.008. Epub 2007 Mar 8.

The use of infrared thermography as an early indicator of bovine respiratory disease complex in calves

A L Schaefer  1 , N J Cook, J S Church, J Basarab, B Perry, C Miller, A K W Tong
Affiliations

The use of infrared thermography as an early indicator of bovine respiratory disease complex in calves

A L Schaefer et al. Res Vet Sci. 2007 Dec.

Abstract

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) complex causes considerable distress to domestic livestock and economic hardship to the beef industry. Furthermore, the resulting extensive use of antimicrobial treatments is a growing concern from the perspective of facilitating antibiotic resistant microbes. The earlier detection of BRD would enable an earlier, more targeted treatment regime and earlier isolation of infected individuals. The objective of the present study was to investigate the use of non-invasive infrared thermography in the early detection of BRD in cattle. Studies were conducted on 133 head of weaned calves. Data demonstrated that infrared thermography was able to identify animals at early stages of illness, often several days to over one week before clinical signs were manifest. Data indicated that 4-6 days prior to the onset of clinical symptoms of BRD, greater positive and negative predictive values and test efficiency for infrared thermography (80%, 65% and 71%, respectively) compared to the industry standard practice of clinical scoring (70%, 45% and 55%, respectively).

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Figures

Fig. 1a
Fig. 1a
Response operant characteristic curve (ROC) for clinical scores on the day of illness or the day animals were true positive.
Fig. 1b
Fig. 1b
Response operant characteristic curve (ROC) for orbital infrared values calculated on the day of illness.
Fig. 1c
Fig. 1c
Response operant characteristic curve (ROC) for clinical scores at 4–6 days pre illness or pre clinical.
Fig. 1d
Fig. 1d
Response operant characteristic curve (ROC) for absolute orbital infrared values calculated at 4–6 days pre illness or pre-clinical. Note, X- and Y-axis values are expressed as percentile units.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Retrospective facial infrared thermography images of the same animal during the onset of bovine respiratory disease. Clinical signs were positive (>3) on days 9–10.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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