Thermovision Monitoring of Subclinical Inflammatory Processes in the Cow’s Mammary Gland and Supporting Joints

Abstract

Based on the studies, the strategy to design a thermal imaging hardware and software complex to monitor inflammatory processes in animals has been developed. Analysis of temperature indices in various healthy cow body areas has been carried out. The reasons for animal body temperature change during physiological processes caused by developing inflammation foci in the cow mammary gland and weight-bearing joints at subclinical disease period have been considered. Parameters of thermal imaging and associated equipment required to detect temperature abnormalities caused by inflammatory processes have been analyzed. The methods of thermal image segmentation, as well as their traditional histogram analysis and new methods of phase portrait analysis, have been reviewed. The key features of thermal image formation and processing aimed to monitor inflammatory processes in animals are discussed.