Correlation between auricular temperature determined by infrared thermography, microbiological load, and clinical severity in otitis externa in French Bulldogs
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.70577/asce.v5i4.1117Keywords:
Inflammation, Malassezia Pachydermatis, OTIS3, Non-invasive diagnosis, Veterinary dermatologyAbstract
Otitis externa in French Bulldogs is a common dermatological condition in small animal clinical practice, characterized by its multifactorial nature and a tendency toward chronicity and recurrence. Its development is linked to inflammatory processes in the ear canal, alterations in the microbiota, and the proliferation of opportunistic microorganisms, notably *Malassezia pachydermatis*. Infrared thermography allows for the identification of ear temperature variations associated with inflammatory processes, thereby providing information that complements clinical and microbiological evaluations. In this context, the correlation between ear temperature, microbiological load, and the clinical severity of otitis externa in French Bulldogs was evaluated.
A non-experimental, correlational, cross-sectional, and prospective study was conducted on 16 French Bulldogs, divided into a group with a clinical diagnosis of otitis externa and a control group. Clinical assessment was performed using the OTIS3 scale and otoscopic examination, while ear temperature was determined via infrared thermography. Samples from the external ear canal were cultured on Sabouraud Dextrose agar with chloramphenicol to determine the presence and load of *M. pachydermatis*. Data were analyzed using Spearman's correlation.
A strong positive correlation was observed between ear temperature and microbiological load (ρ = 0.840; p < 0.001), as well as a positive correlation between temperature and clinical severity (ρ = 0.478; p = 0.031). All animals in the case group showed growth of M. pachydermatis, whereas the control group yielded negative cultures. It was concluded that infrared thermography can complement the clinical assessment of otitis externa in French Bulldogs.
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