Comparative evaluations of tear secretion in healthy and infectious keratoconjunctivitis Romanov sheep with Schirmer tear test and phenol red thread tear test

Abstract

The aim of this study is to determine the amount of tear secretion in sheep with infectious keratoconjunctivitis and healthy ones in the Siirt region by Schirmer tear test and phenol red thread tear test. A total of 47 Romanov sheep, consisting of sheep with infectious keratoconjunctivitis (n = 6) and healthy sheep (n = 41), constituted the study material. Phenol red thread tear test followed by Schirmer tear test was performed on both eyes of the animals, properly taken at a control visit on their feet. The Schirmer tear test and phenol red thread tear test values were measured as 18.83 +/- 5.29 mm/min and 22.22 +/- 6.09 mm/s in the right eyes and 18.41 +/- 7.15 mm/min and 20.83 +/- 5.72 mm/s in the left eyes, respectively, in healthy animals. The Schirmer tear test and phenol red thread tear test values were measured as 17.33 +/- 4.27 mm/min and 18.83 +/- 4.36 mm/s in the right eyes and 17.33 +/- 7.55 mm/min and 20.17 +/- 4.58 mm/s in the left eyes, respectively, in animals with infectious keratoconjunctivitis. The phenol red thread tear test measurement averages were found to be significantly higher than the Schirmer tear test measurement averages (P > 0.05). The amount of normal tear secretion was determined in Romanov breed sheep by the phenol red thread tear test and Schirmer tear test and there was no statistically significant difference in animals with infectious keratoconjunctivitis (P > 0.05).