Termografía infrarroja como técnica alternativa para la detección de mastitis subclínica bovina en la parroquia Cumbe

Abstract

The study aimed to validate the use of infrared thermography (IRT) as a diagnostic technique for subclinical bovine mastitis (SBM). A total of 250 Holstein Friesian and crossbred female bovines were evaluated from the first to sixth calving, between 30 and 150 days of lactation, managed under a semi-intensive system in the Cumbe parish, Cuenca-Ecuador. Initially, SBM was detected using infrared thermography, with predefined temperature ranges for healthy and diseased quarters. These thermal ranges were validated through the California Mastitis Test (CMT) field test. From the positive mammary quarters for CMT and IRT, milk samples were collected in 10 ml falcon tubes for somatic cell count (SCC) using Ekomilk Scan. The evaluated variables included Sensitivity, Specificity, Positive Predictive Value (PPV), Negative Predictive Value (NPV), Validity Index, Youden Index, Positive and Negative Likelihood Ratio. The results showed a prevalence of SBM of 28.8% and 16.5% at cow and mammary quarter levels, respectively. Regarding the variables studied, Sensitivity, Specificity, Positive Predictive Value (PPV), Negative Predictive Value (NPV), Accuracy, Youden's Index, Positive Likelihood Ratio, and Negative Likelihood Ratio were determined as 99.46%, 92.19%, 97.60%, 97.37%, 98.33%, 0.92%, 12.73%, and 0.01%, respectively. No positive correlation was found between temperature and environmental humidity with the thermal values of IRT. It is concluded that Infrared Thermography could be implemented as a promising technique for SBM detection. Keywords. Bovine mastitis; infrared thermography; diagnostic technique