EVALUATIONS OF TEAR SECRETION IN AN OUTBREAK OF ESCHERICHIA COLI IN LAMBS WITH SCHIRMER TEAR TEST

This study aims to determinate the tear secretion in lambs with colibacillosis and healthy ones by utilizing Schirmer Tear Test. A total of 25 lambs aged between 1-6 days, among which 15 were with Escherichia coli (Group 1, n=15) and 10 were in the healthy conditions (Group 2, n=10). The lambs in the study group were diagnosed for Escherichia coli by using a sheepspecific rapid diagnosis kit before being included in the group. Lambs to be included in the control group were selected from among the lambs that did not show any signs of disease and never had diarrhea after birth. Schirmer Tear Test was performed on both eyes of healthy and Escherichia coli and results were recorded. Group 1 Mean ± SD Schirmer Tear Test values for right and left eye were 6.47±1.55 and 7.33±1.45 mm/min and Group 2 Mean ± SD Schirmer Tear Test values for right and left eye were 15.7±9.07 and 17.5±8.36 mm/min, respectively. Comparison between Schirmer Tear Test values of right eyes and left eyes revealed no significant differences in either of groups (P=0.063, P=0.306). Both eye’s Schirmer Tear Test results were combined to compare groups. The mean of Group 1 (6.9±1.54) was found to be significantly lower than the mean of Group 2 (16.6±8.54) as a result (P < 0.001). As a result of this study, the amount of tear secretion was determined with the Schirmer Tear Test and there was a statistically significant difference between healthy and lambs with Escherichia coli.