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Home / Equine Research Bank / Equine Vet J / Quantitative sensory testing of the equine face.
Equine veterinary journal2020; 53(1); 177-185; doi: 10.1111/evj.13270

Quantitative sensory testing of the equine face.

Abstract: Quantitative sensory testing methods are now standard in the evaluation of sensory function in man, while few normal equine values have been reported. Objective: The aim of this experimental study was (a) to define the tactile sensory, mechanical nociceptive and thermal nociceptive thresholds of the equine face; (b) to assess the effect of age, sex, stimulation site and shaving; (c) to evaluate the reliability of the methods and (d) to provide reference facial quantitative sensory testing values. Methods: Method description. Methods: Thirty-four healthy Warmblood horses were used in the study. Six (tactile sensory threshold) and five (mechanical nociceptive and thermal nociceptive thresholds) areas of the left side of the face with clear anatomical landmarks were evaluated. Ten horses had two (mechanical nociceptive threshold) or three (tactile sensory and thermal nociceptive thresholds) of these areas shaved for another study. A linear Mixed model was used for data analysis. Results: All thresholds increased with age (tactile sensory threshold: by 0.90 g/y (CI = [0.12 g; 0.36 g]) P = .001; mechanical nociceptive threshold: by 0.25 N/y (CI = [0.13-0.36 N]) P = .000; thermal nociceptive threshold: by 0.2°C/y (CI = [0.055-0.361]) P = .008). Sex had no effect on thresholds (tactile sensory threshold: P = .1; mechanical nociceptive threshold: P = .09; thermal nociceptive threshold: P = .2). Stimulation site affected tactile sensory and mechanical nociceptive thresholds (P = .001 and P = .008), but not thermal nociceptive threshold (P = .9). Shaving had no significant effect on any of the thresholds (tactile sensory threshold: P = .06; mechanical nociceptive threshold: P = .08; thermal nociceptive threshold: P = .09). Conclusions: Only the left side was investigated and measurements were obtained on a single occasion. Conclusions: Handheld quantitative sensory testing does not require shaving or clipping to provide reliable measurements. Stimulation over the nostril (tactile sensory threshold), temporomandibular joint (mechanical nociceptive threshold) and supraorbital foramen (thermal nociceptive threshold) resulted in the most consistent thresholds.
© 2020 The Authors. Equine Veterinary Journal published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of EVJ Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2020-05-12 PubMed ID: 32306423DOI: 10.1111/evj.13270Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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This study sought to define and evaluate the tactile sensory, mechanical nociceptive, and thermal nociceptive thresholds in horse’s facial area, factoring in aspects like age, sex, stimulation site, and shaving, ultimately to establish reference values for equine quantitative sensory testing. Findings reveal an increase in all thresholds with age, no significant effect of sex or shaving on the thresholds, but the stimulation site was crucial for tactile sensory and mechanical nociceptive thresholds.

Objective and Methodology

  • The purpose of this research was to define and evaluate the tactile sensory, mechanical nociceptive and thermal nociceptive thresholds on horses’ faces. Additionally, the investigation assessed the effects of variables like age, sex, stimulation site, and shaving on these thresholds. The ultimate goal was to provide reference facial quantitative sensory testing values, which are currently lacking in equine studies.
  • Thirty-four healthy Warmblood horses were used in the study. Specific areas on the left side of the face marked with clear anatomical landmarks were evaluated. Particular horses had some of these areas shaved for a distinct study. A linear Mixed model was used to analyze the collected data.

Findings

  • The results indicated that all sensory thresholds increased with age. More specifically, tactile sensory threshold increased by 0.90 g/y, mechanical nociceptive threshold by 0.25 N/y, and thermal nociceptive threshold by 0.2°C/y.
  • The study determined that the sex of the horses had no substantial influence on any of the thresholds. Similarly, shaving the horses’ facial areas did not remarkably affect the sensory thresholds.
  • The stimulation site was found to significantly impact the tactile sensory and mechanical nociceptive thresholds. However, the stimulation site did not noticeably affect the thermal nociceptive threshold.

Conclusions

  • The study was limited to the left side of the face, and measurements were carried out only once. Despite this restriction, this research provides valuable insights into quantitative sensory testing in horses.
  • The study concluded that handheld quantitative sensory testing does not necessitate shaving or clipping to yield reliable measurements. Moreover, the researchers identified the nostril, temporomandibular joint, and supraorbital foramen as the most consistent stimulation sites for tactile sensory, mechanical nociceptive, and thermal nociceptive thresholds, respectively.

Cite This Article

APA
Veres-Nyéki KO, Nyéki J, Bodó G, Spadavecchia C. (2020). Quantitative sensory testing of the equine face. Equine Vet J, 53(1), 177-185. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.13270

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 53
Issue: 1
Pages: 177-185

Researcher Affiliations

Veres-Nyéki, Kata O
  • Anaesthesiology Division, Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Nyéki, József
  • KDV Hungária Ltd, Varbó, Hungary.
Bodó, Gábor
  • Equine Department and Clinic, University of Veterinary Medicine, Üllő, Hungary.
Spadavecchia, Claudia
  • Anaesthesiology Division, Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Horse Diseases
  • Horses
  • Hot Temperature
  • Pain / veterinary
  • Reference Values
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sensory Thresholds

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Citations

This article has been cited 2 times.
  1. Hartmann A, Welte-Jzyk C, Schmidtmann I, Geber C, Al-Nawas B, Daubländer M. Somatosensory and Gustatory Profiling in the Orofacial Region.. Diagnostics (Basel) 2022 Dec 16;12(12).
    doi: 10.3390/diagnostics12123198pubmed: 36553205google scholar: lookup
  2. Gueguen L, Lerch N, Grandgeorge M, Hausberger M. Testing individual variations of horses' tactile reactivity: when, where, how?. Naturwissenschaften 2022 Aug 11;109(5):41.
    doi: 10.1007/s00114-022-01811-ypubmed: 35951112google scholar: lookup
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