Blanke Annemarie, Fischer Marie-Luise, Fuchs Michael, Schusser Gerald F
Berl Munch Tierarztl Wochenschr. 2014 Mar-Apr;127(3-4):99-107.
Since there is a lack of information about the normal appearance or pathological findings of the equine external ear canal (EEEC) and tympanic membrane (TM), we aimed to find a practical way to perform the otoscopic examination in standing, sedated horses. Therefore, we worked with common veterinary video endoscopes, which are normally used for gastroscopy or bronchoscopy. Both ears each of 38 randomly selected, chemically restrained horses were otoscopically examined. 33 of those horses had no history or signs of potentially ear-associated diseases. However, two horses with vestibular disease and three horses with head shaking were included in the otoscopic examinations. We created references of the normal appearance of the EEEC and TM on the basis of the characteristic anatomical landmarks, degree of debris, amount of keratin scales, shape of the intersection between the cartilaginous (CEEC) and osseous (OEEC) portion of the external ear canal, shape of the OEEC, formation of the keratin layer and its integrity, epithelium colour of the OEEC, and complexion of the TM. With this information, we were able to visualise tympanosclerosis in two equine eardrums, as well as low-grade to severe external otitis in three horses. Severe bilateral external otitis combined with temporohyoid osteoarthropathy (THO) was found in one of those horses. A foreign body was found in one OEEC. This study shows that otoscopic examination is a basic, easy to perform and beneficial diagnostic procedure for a complete work-up of ear-related diseases, such as THO, facial nerve paralysis, vestibular disease, head-shaking or head trauma. Plus, regarding animal welfare, well being of horses is highly influenced by noise exposure. Therefore research on equine audiological aspects needs to be promoted. The standardized otoscopic examination provides an important basis for further research on aural diseases.
由于缺乏有关马外耳道（EEEC）和鼓膜（TM）的正常外观或病理表现的信息，我们旨在找到一种在站立、镇静的马匹中进行耳镜检查的实用方法。因此，我们使用了通常用于胃镜检查或支气管镜检查的普通兽医视频内窥镜。对38匹随机选择的、经化学约束的马的双耳进行了耳镜检查。其中33匹马没有潜在耳部相关疾病的病史或体征。然而，两匹患有前庭疾病的马和三匹摇头的马也被纳入了耳镜检查。我们根据特征性解剖标志、碎屑程度、角蛋白鳞片数量、外耳道软骨部（CEEC）和骨部（OEEC）之间交叉处的形状、OEEC的形状、角蛋白层的形成及其完整性、OEEC的上皮颜色以及TM的外观，创建了EEEC和TM正常外观的参考标准。利用这些信息，我们在两个马鼓膜中发现了鼓室硬化，在三匹马中发现了轻度至重度外耳道炎。其中一匹马患有严重的双侧外耳道炎并伴有颞舌骨骨关节炎（THO）。在一个OEEC中发现了一个异物。这项研究表明，耳镜检查是一种基本的、易于执行且有益的诊断程序，可用于全面检查与耳朵相关的疾病，如THO、面神经麻痹、前庭疾病、摇头或头部创伤。此外，关于动物福利，马的健康受到噪音暴露的高度影响。因此，需要推动对马听觉方面的研究。标准化的耳镜检查为进一步研究耳部疾病提供了重要依据。
