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. 2022 Jan 13;12(2):191.
doi: 10.3390/ani12020191.

Thermographic Screening of Beef Cattle Metatarsal Growth Plate Lesions

Giorgia Fabbri  1 , Matteo Gianesella  1 , Rossella Tessari  1 , Andrea Bassini  2 , Massimo Morgante  1 , Barbara Contiero  1 , Vanessa Faillace  1 , Enrico Fiore  1
Affiliations

Thermographic Screening of Beef Cattle Metatarsal Growth Plate Lesions

Giorgia Fabbri et al. Animals (Basel). .

Abstract

Lameness represents one of the main causes of decreased productive performance and impaired animal welfare in the bovine industry. Young beef bulls are predisposed to develop diseases of the growing skeleton, especially growth plate lesions. Early diagnosis is indispensable for ensuring correct treatment, fast recovery and reduction losses. However, when dealing with beef cattle, this is not always possible. Fast and reliable diagnostic imaging techniques are necessary to improve dealing with lameness in beef animals. The aim of the present study was to examine the potential of thermographic imaging as a non-invasive tool for rapidly screening beef bulls for the presence of growth plate lesions. Here, 20 Charolais and Limousine beef bulls affected by growth plate lesions in one of the rear limbs were selected. IRT was performed on both hind limbs using a digital infrared camera (ThermaCam T420 Model, Flir Systems, Boston, MA, USA), prior to radiographic imaging and clinical examination. The temperature of healthy and affected limbs was measured in two regions: the area correspondent to the growth plate (AR01) and the whole area of the metatarsus (AR02). Growth plate lesions were found to increase the maximum, mean, and minimum temperatures in AR01; and the mean and maximum temperatures in AR02, therefore, indicating the potential of IRT as a reliable, practical tool for screening growth plate lesions in beef bulls.

Keywords: beef cattle; growth plate lesions; infrared thermography; physitis.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest and the funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, or in the decision to publish the results.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Operational flowchart of the methods in the study.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Diagnostic imaging in comparison: (a) thermographic imaging of the metatarsal region of the hind limbs, an area of increased brightness is present on the limb on the left, indicating increased skin temperature; (b) radiographic imaging of the same limb. Signs of lysis can be appreciated throughout the physis.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Example of ROI areas, identified by the blue square. (a) AR01-A: Growth plate area on the affected metatarsus. (b) AR02-A: Whole area of the affected metatarsus. (c) AR01-N: Growth plate area on the healthy metatarsus. (d) AR02-N: Whole area of the healthy metatarsus.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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