Equine wounds refer to any physical injuries that occur on the skin or underlying tissues of horses. These injuries can result from various causes, such as trauma, surgical procedures, or environmental factors. The healing process of equine wounds involves a complex series of physiological events, including inflammation, tissue formation, and remodeling. Factors such as wound location, size, and the horse's overall health can influence the healing process. Effective management of equine wounds often requires an understanding of wound types, healing stages, and potential complications. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the mechanisms, treatment strategies, and outcomes associated with wound healing in horses.
Resetic N, Comino F, Wilmink J, Gorvy DA.To report the management and outcomes of five horses with ear skin defects treated with the use of full-thickness mesh grafts and full-thickness Meek micrografts. Methods: Five horses with acute or granulating pinna skin wounds. Methods: Short case series. Methods: A full-thickness graft was harvested from the pectoral region under general anesthesia. The sheet graft was stretched on a sterile plastic board with the epidermal side facing down. The subcutaneous fat and fascia were removed by sharp dissection. The skin graft was then meshed by hand or using a block mesher, or manually cut into m...
Chodzinski A, Wissing S, Tipold A, Geburek F.The skills necessary to perform diagnostic perineural anesthesia in equids belongs to one of the Day One Competences of a veterinarian, so every veterinary graduate should be able to perform them correctly. For logistical, hygienic and ethical reasons, practical exercises on cadaver limbs are not accessible to all students. Two equine distal limb simulators were developed and evaluated as an additional instructional tool to train the required skills. Both simulators were designed and built with an integrated success control, with Simulator I (S1) designed to be a simplified anatomical model an...
Schiele AR, Valletti C, Ringer SK.A Trotter mare (aged 5 years 8 months) presented with severe thoracic limb lameness 2 years after screw fixation of a third carpal bone fracture. Septic arthritis of the intermediate carpal joint necessitated three anaesthetics: two arthroscopic lavages in dorsal recumbency, followed by a computed tomography-guided screw explantation with curettage of an infected, sclerotic third carpal bone in right lateral recumbency. For each anaesthetic, maintenance was with isoflurane carried in oxygen and air, and a medetomidine constant rate infusion. Twelve days after the third anaesthetic, the horse h...
Matsubara T, Fukatsu R, Yamamoto M, Moriya M, Hano K, Nakamura K, Ohba Y, Takasu M.Including Internet of Things (IoT) technology in horse-rearing management can potentially mitigate problems such as human resource shortages and time limitations in performing daily behavior monitoring. In this study, a small and inexpensive activity meter used to monitor dogs and cats (PLUS CYCLE, JARMeC, Kanagawa, Japan) was used to monitor the daily behavior of horses. A study was performed to examine the suitability of the PLUS CYCLE device for monitoring horses and to determine whether it could estimate horse behavior. The device was equipped with an accelerometer and was used to monitor ...
DeBoer M, Rieck T, Johnson L, Redenius H, Martinson K.Horses have become more intensively managed, including the use of hay nets to increase intake time and reduce hay waste, but their impact on health is not well known. The objectives were to compare changes in subluxations, range of motion, and the pain-pressure threshold in the axial skeleton of horses fed hay with (NET) or without (CON) hay nets. In September 2021, 13 adult horses were blocked by bodyweight (BW) and randomly assigned to the NET or CON treatments for one year. After one year, horses switched treatments and the trial concluded in September 2023. Horses were housed in dry lots w...
Resende AM, Miranda BA, Silva LB, Oliveira AB, Castro MB, Macêdo IL, Dallago BSL, Barud HS, Borges MAC, Ribeiro CA, Dias DS, Campebell RC.Background/Objectives: Skin injuries are common in the equine clinical practice, requiring effective treatment to support natural healing. Bacuri butter is gaining attention for its potential in wound healing and its anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties. Natural polymers such as onion (Allium cepa) bioplastics have been investigated for their potential as occlusive dressings and for tissue regeneration. Methods: This study evaluated the healing process of experimentally induced skin wounds on horses treated with bacuri butter, washed onion film, and unwashed onion film....
Merridale-Punter MS, Wodajo AL, Elias B, Bakos AM, Zewdu H, Tesfaye R, Hailegebreal G, Sori T, El-Hage CM, Wiethoelter AK, Hitchens PL.Working equids support the livelihoods of millions of low-income households worldwide and face several welfare challenges. Although equipment-related wounds are common, little is known about specific risk factors. This cross-sectional study surveyed equids used for cart-work in three Ethiopian towns. Number, size, severity and location of wounds were recorded for each animal, as well as work equipment characteristics and indicators of equipment fit and assembly. Questionnaires were conducted with each cart-driver focusing on equipment practices and attitudes. Logistic regression models were ge...
Fahey MJ, Harman RM, Thomas MA, Pugliese BR, Peters-Kennedy J, Delco ML, Van de Walle GR.We aimed to study the antimicrobial and pro-healing potential of equine mesenchymal stromal cell secreted products (i.e. secretome), collected as conditioned media (mesenchymal stromal cell-conditioned media, MSC CM), in a novel in vivo model of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)-inoculated equine thorax wounds. Methods: Prospective in vivo study. Methods: Two Thoroughbred geldings. Methods: Six full-thickness cutaneous wounds were created bilaterally on the dorsal thorax of two horses (n = 12 wounds/horse). Wounds on the left thoraces were inoculated with MRSA on day 0. Al...
Baltrimaite M, Kearney C, O'Brien A, Duggan M, Cuq B.A 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding developed complications from a general anesthesia resulting in sling support and recurrent urinary catheterization. The horse subsequently presented signs of dysuria and pollakiuria, was diagnosed with sabulous cystitis, and developed a urethral stricture from the repeated catheterizations, which was confirmed on urethroscopy. Clinical signs persisted despite conservative management with topical corticosteroids and urethral bougienage with balloon dilators. An image-guided approach was used to treat the stricture with a custom-made polydioxanone stent pl...
White JM, Hibner-Szaltys M, Duz M, Withers JM, Marcatili M.To determine the influence of breed (cob [CB] and non-cob [NC]), obturator type and surgical experience on the number of attempts, time taken and iatrogenic damage (ID) created when entering the digital flexor tendon sheath (DFTS) tenoscopically. Methods: Prospective experimental cadaveric study. Methods: A total of 104 cadaver limbs. Methods: An equal number of randomly selected CB and NC limbs were operated using a conical obturator (OB) or a switching stick (SS) by one boarded (BS) and one resident surgeon (RS). Skin measurements, number of attempts and time taken to enter the DFTS were rec...
Zetterberg E, Persson-Sjodin E, Lundblad J, Hernlund E, Rhodin M.A high proportion of horses in training, perceived as free from lameness by their owner, exhibit vertical movement asymmetries. These types of asymmetries are sensitive measures of lameness, but their specificity as indicators of orthopaedic pathology or locomotor function remains unclear. Equine athletes performing at a high level could be assumed to exhibit a higher degree of movement symmetry compared with the general horse population, but this has not been confirmed. This study investigated the prevalence of movement asymmetries in horses performing at a high level in three equestrian disc...
Ross C, White JM, Hibner-Szaltys M, Stephenson RS, Withers JM, Marcatili M.To describe the surgical technique for removal of hoof wall masses in horses under standing sedation (SS) and local anesthesia (LA), and to report complications and long-term outcome following surgery. Methods: Observational retrospective study. Methods: Client-owned horses (n = 30). Methods: Horses undergoing keratoma removal under SS and LA in a single equine hospital between August 2016 and July 2023 were included in the study. Signalment, affected foot, history of lameness and/or foot abscesses, degree of lameness on admission, imaging findings (radiography and magnetic resonance imagi...
Pratt S, Sole-Guitart A, de Klerk K, Evans E, Hume J, Palmieri C, Rainger J, Goodwin W.Post-traumatic distal limb wounds cause discomfort and heal gradually by second intention. The topical application of Tri-Solfen (lidocaine hydrochloride, bupivacaine hydrochloride, adrenaline acid tartrate and cetrimide [LBAC]) produces effective postsurgical cutaneous analgesia in lambs, calves and piglets; however, its effect on wounds in horses is unknown. The antinociceptive effect, measured by mechanical threshold (MT), and the wound healing impacts of LBAC compared with saline were investigated on surgically created 20 × 20 mm distal limb wounds in 10 horses. Treatment was applied once...
Wickstead FA, Milner PI, Bardell DA.Wound infusion catheters (WICs) have been used in humans and some veterinary species for post-operative local anesthetic administration following a variety of surgical procedures, aiming to reduce post-operative analgesia requirements and improve patient comfort. Benefit in reduction in pain, post-operative analgesia requirements and length of hospital stay are well documented in humans, but use of WICs may not have been widely adopted in veterinary species due to the concern of increased complications, such as dehiscence or surgical site infection (SSI), creating a barrier to their use. This ...
Casado-Santos A, González-Cubero E, González-Fernández ML, González-Rodríguez Y, García-Rodríguez MB, Villar-Suárez V.Corneal ulcers are a common and potentially vision-threatening condition in horses that can be challenging to treat with conventional therapies alone. This case report describes the successful treatment of a non-healing corneal ulcer in a 28-year-old Hispano-Bretón mare using the secretome derived from adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs). Despite initial treatment with antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, and surgical debridement, the corneal ulcer failed to heal properly, exhibiting persistent epithelial defects and stromal complications. As an alternative regenerative appr...
Merridale-Punter MS, Wiethoelter AK, El-Hage CM, Patrick C, Hitchens PL.Despite several millions of working equids worldwide, there are few published studies regarding the epidemiology of their health and welfare. Data collected by non-governmental organisations (NGOs) operating in the working equid sphere therefore have important epidemiological value and could be used towards animal health surveillance. The aim of this study was to identify common clinical findings and mortality patterns of working equids in low- and middle-income countries and investigate their epidemiology using data collected from an international NGO. A retrospective analysis was conducted t...
Lardone E, Landi A, Franci P.During electrochemotherapy (ECT), a chemotherapeutic drug is injected into the tumor and then an electroporation is provided. In horses, ear manipulation may be very painful, and combining a loco-regional technique with sedation might be a good option to avoid anesthesia-related risks. A two-injection-point block of the internal and external pinna and acoustic meatus was described in horse cadavers, and it permitted complete stain of all three branches of the great auricular nerve (GAN), internal auricular nerve branch (IAB), lateral auricular branch (LAB), and caudal auricular nerve (CAN), su...
Pressanto MC, Bombonato C, Foote AK, Coomer RPC.To describe dermoid cyst formation as an uncommon complication of the pinch grafting technique in horses. Methods: Case report. Methods: A 8 year old Arabian gelding. Methods: Clinical presentation, imaging, treatment, and histopathology records were reviewed. The horse originally presented due to delayed healing of a laceration to the distal aspect of the metatarsus. The wound was treated initially with debridement and it was allowed to fill with healthy granulation tissue prior to pinch grafting. Two months after grafting, the horse started to show self-mutilation behavior targeting the woun...
Bertelsen L.A Quarter horse filly was evaluated for a two-week old wound of the right hind cannon bone after the mare stepped on her. A sequestrum was noted radiographically and was surgically debrided. After continued follow-up a left hind varus deformity was noted and was corrected with a lateral transphyseal screw in the distal left tibia. After the varus deformity was improved, a lateromedial radiograph was taken of the distal left tibia and tarsus and talocalcaneal subluxation was seen. The same view was taken of the right tarsus and the same deformity was noted. After finding no case reports on the ...
Ribeiro G, Carvalho L, Borges J, Prazeres J.Equine skin wound treatment continues to be a challenge for veterinarians. Despite being a frequent practice, it remains difficult to choose an evidence-based treatment protocol. This study aimed to comprehensively explore the literature and provide a scoping review of therapeutic strategies for equine skin wounds and identify knowledge gaps and opportunities for future research. This review was conducted using specific criteria to select literature that described methods to manage second intention wound healing. After removing duplicates and screening papers for suitability, 81 manuscripts we...
Salciccia A, de la Rebière de Pouyade G, Caudron I, Ponthier J, Serteyn D, Sandersen C, Deleuze S, Grulke S.Although rarely fatal, complications of ventral midline laparotomy incision in equine patients increase hospitalization cost and duration and may jeopardize return to athletic function. Therefore, many techniques have been developed to reduce their occurrence and expedite their resolution when they occur. Our technique of celiotomy incision closure includes the use of tension sutures (vertical U mattress) of polyglactin 910 on the linea alba, which is then apposed by polyglactin 910 interrupted sutures or a simple continuous pattern suture with a stop midway before routine closure of the super...
Trostle SS, Santos MAPD, Stephens PR.To retrospectively report the historical and clinical findings, diagnostics, treatment, and outcome of horses with penetrating wood foreign bodies (PWFBs) of the coronary band. Methods: 15 client-owned horses. Methods: Horses had varying degrees of lameness and soft tissue swelling of the coronary band and pastern region. A defect in the coronary band was identified, but the actual wood foreign body was not always readily visualized. Results: Medical records of horses diagnosed with PWFBs of the coronary band between 2004 and 2023 were reviewed. Information retrieved from the medical records i...
Trostle SS, Kearney EM, Medoff M, Devaney S.To describe the clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of a fragmented, migrating acupuncture needle near the palmar proximal interphalangeal joint (PIPJ) of a horse. Methods: A 9-year-old Warmblood cross mare. Unassigned: The mare presented for evaluation of a linear metallic foreign body on the palmar lateral aspect of the PIPJ following acupuncture treatment. The mare had a pinpoint puncture wound and sensitivity to palpation over the lateral aspect of the PIPJ region. The referring veterinarian performed radiographs and found a linear metallic foreign body near the lateral palmar ...
Merridale-Punter MS, Elias B, Wodajo AL, El-Hage CM, Zewdu H, Tesfaye R, Hailegebreal G, Sori T, Wiethoelter AK, Hitchens PL.Millions of working equids provide socio-economic support for many low-income communities worldwide. With the prevalence of harness-related wounds reported as higher than 60%, this study aims to describe the equipment used by working equids in three locations of the Ethiopian national regional state of Oromia (Fiche, Bishoftu and Shashamene), and the attitudes and practices of equid owners, users and harness makers regarding work equipment. This mixed-methods study consists of cross-sectional surveying of working equids used for taxi or transport of goods or water, as well as cart-driver quest...
Williams ZJ, Pezzanite LM, Hendrickson DA.Skin grafting is a simple technique that can be performed by equine practitioners to improve cosmetic outcomes in wounds with large skin defects that would not heal functionally or cosmetically with standard wound therapy interventions. Successful skin grafting is not difficult but relies upon appropriate preparation of the wound bed and effective immobilisation of the grafted area after skin graft placement. Prior to grafting, the wound bed should be treated with a moist wound healing dressing to prepare the granulation tissue bed to receive the graft. For best results, skin grafts should be ...
Abebaw B.An adult male black horse was presented to the UOG veterinary clinic with swelling, discharge, and skin wounds on the chest wall and the right front leg; then, it goes to the lateral and medial hind leg. Inspection and palpation were carried out, and we revealed that the skin was swelled, thickened and hard on clinical examination. There was also nodule rupture, and discharge on the limb and chest skin. Different therapy was applied starting from washing the wound with water-diluted potassium permanganate and then 0.9% NaCl together with paraffin topically placed on the wound. 10% povidone-iod...
Palmisano M, Kulp J, Bender S, Stefanovski D, Robinson M, Johnson A.Eight-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), a biomarker of oxidative damage evaluated in human neurodegenerative disease, has potential to correlate with postmortem diagnosis of neuroaxonal dystrophy/degenerative myeloencephalopathy (NAD/DM) in horses. Objective: We hypothesized that 8-OHdG will be higher in CSF and serum from NAD/DM horses compared with horses with other neurologic diseases (CVSM, EPM) and a control group of neurologically normal horses. We also hypothesized that 8-OHdG will be higher in CSF compared with serum from NAD/DM horses. Methods: Fifty client-owned horses with postmor...
Pimenta J, Dias C, Cotovio M, Saavedra MJ.Considering the increasing antibiotics resistance, there has been a propensity to replace them with antiseptics when it comes to wound management and treatment. Nevertheless, in recent years, there have been reports regarding resistance to antiseptics by some bacterial strains. There is also concern about the environmental impact of these substances. The aim of this study was to compare the antimicrobial efficacy of antiseptics and eucalyptus essential oils on bacterial strains from horse's wounds. We used twelve Escherichia coli, eight Staphylococcus aureus, two Staphylococcus pseudintermediu...
Labens R, Raidal S, Borgen-Nielsen C, Pyecroft S, Pant SD, De Ridder T.Topical wound treatments rely on carrier formulations with little to no biological impact. The potential for a common vehicle, a propylene glycol (PG) gel, to affect wound healing measures including microbiota is not known. Microbiome characterization, based on next generation sequencing methods is typically performed on tissue or directly obtained wound fluid samples. The utility for primary wound dressings to characterize equine wound microbiota in the context of topical treatments is currently unknown. This investigation reports the topical effect of an 80% PG based gel on wound healing and...
Comino F, Pollock PJ, Fulton I, Hewitt-Dedman C, Handel I, Gorvy DA.To achieve an excellent functional and cosmetic result, primary closure is preferred over leaving wounds to heal by secondary intention. However, traumatic wounds are often under excessive tension during wound closure and incorrect suture technique can compromise microcirculation, leading to skin necrosis and impaired wound healing. Objective: To describe an inexpensive and effective tension relief technique that helps the successful primary closure of a variety of equine wounds at high risk of dehiscence. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: All wounds that were managed with the Tensi...
Celeste CJ, Deschesne K, Riley CB, Theoret CL.To map skin temperature kinetics, and by extension skin blood flow throughout normal or abnormal repair of full-thickness cutaneous wounds created on the horse body and limb, using infrared thermography. Methods: Experimental. Methods: Standardbreds (n = 6), aged 3-4 years. Methods: Three cutaneous wounds were created on the dorsolateral surface of each metacarpus and on the lateral thoracic wall. Thoracic skin wounds and those on 1 randomly chosen forelimb healed by second intention without a bandage, whereas contralateral limb wounds were bandaged to induce formation of exuberant granulation...
Harman RM, Theoret CL, Van de Walle GR.Significance: Cutaneous wounds are a major problem in both human and equine medicine. The economic cost of treating skin wounds and related complications in humans and horses is high, and in both species, particular types of chronic wounds do not respond well to current therapies, leading to suffering and morbidity. Recent Advances: Conventional methods for the treatment of cutaneous wounds are generic and have not changed significantly in decades. However, as more is learned about the mechanisms involved in normal skin wound healing, and how failure of these processes leads to chronic nonheal...
Linde HJ, Kobuch R, Jayasinghe S, Reischl U, Lehn N, Kaulfuss S, Beutin L.We report the first case of a postoperative wound infection caused by Vibrio metschnikovii on the lower right leg of a patient after saphenectomy. Compared to the healing of an uninfected site, that of the right leg was delayed, and a cure was achieved by intensified wound care. Several swabs taken from the infected site grew a gram-negative rod in pure culture that was identified as V. metschnikovii by the VITEK 2 system. The source of the infection was not detected; however, the absence of putative risk factors (exposure to water or shellfish or an episode of diarrhea), the profession of the...
Bischofberger AS, Dart CM, Horadagoda N, Perkins NR, Jeffcott LB, Little CB, Dart AJ.To investigate the effect of 66% Manuka honey gel on the concentrations of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 and TGF-β3, bacterial counts and histomorphology during healing of contaminated equine distal limb wounds. Methods: In this experimental study of 10 Standardbred horses, five full-thickness skin wounds (2 × 1.5 cm) were created on one metacarpus and six similar wounds were created on the contralateral metacarpus. Wounds were assigned to three groups: non-contaminated control wounds; contaminated control wounds; contaminated wounds treated daily with 1 mL Manuka honey gel to...
Theoret CL, Barber SM, Moyana TN, Gordon JR.To determine whether transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 and -beta3 expression differs between equine limb wounds healing normally and those healing with experimentally induced exuberant granulation tissue (EGT). Methods: Six wounds were created on the lateral aspect of both metacarpi of each horse; one forelimb was untreated, and the other was bandaged to stimulate the development of EGT. Sequential wound biopsies allowed comparison of growth factor expression between the two types of wound. Methods: Four horses (2 to 4 years of age; 350 to 420 kg). Methods: Wounds were assessed grossly, h...
Theoret CL.The equine practitioner who is presented with a wounded horse should fully understand the physiologic mechanisms involved in repair so as to design an appropriate treatment plan. In the following articles of this issue,experienced authors share their thoughts on the management of specific injuries, and the reader should benefit from acquisition of knowledge about the different phases of healing as well as the cytokines that regulate them,because these data dictate the approach to follow, particularly in com-plicated wounds, such as those afflicted by chronic inflammation and/or an excessive pr...
Bischofberger AS, Dart CM, Perkins NR, Kelly A, Jeffcott L, Dart AJ.To compare the effects of manuka honey and manuka honey gel on second intention healing of noncontaminated distal limb wounds and those contaminated with feces. Methods: Experimental study. Methods: Standardbred horses (n = 10). Methods: Five full-thickness wounds (2 × 2 cm) were created on both metacarpi. Wounds on 1 forelimb were covered with horse feces for 24 hours. Wounds on the contralateral limb were left uncontaminated. Wounds were assigned to the following 5 different treatments: manuka honey, manuka honey gel or gel applied for 12 days, manuka honey gel applied throughout healing an...
Bodaan CJ, Wise LM, Wakelin KA, Stuart GS, Real NC, Mercer AA, Riley CB, Theoret C.Healing is delayed in limb wounds relative to body wounds of horses, partly because of sustained inflammation and inefficient angiogenesis. In laboratory animals, proteins derived from orf virus modulate these processes and enhance healing. We aimed to compare immune cell trafficking and the inflammatory, vascular, and epidermal responses in body and limb wounds of horses and then to investigate the impact of orf virus interleukin-10 and vascular endothelial growth factor-E on these processes. Standardized excisional wounds were created on the body and forelimb of horses and their progression ...
Theoret CL, Bolwell CF, Riley CB.To determine the frequency and type of skin wounds encountered by New Zealand veterinarians in their equine patients, the duration and estimated costs of treatment as well as the expected outcomes for these wounds. Methods: An online survey was sent to all veterinarians registered with the New Zealand Equine Veterinary Association. The survey comprised questions on the location and experience of respondents, the number of wound-related cases in relation to the total equine caseload, the type and anatomical location of wounds treated, the frequency, duration and costs of treatments, the outcome...
Wise LM, Bodaan CJ, Stuart GS, Real NC, Lateef Z, Mercer AA, Riley CB, Theoret CL.Bandaging of limb wounds in horses leads to formation of exuberant granulation tissue (EGT) that retards healing due to protracted inflammation, aberrant vascularisation and delayed epithelialisation. EGT is not observed if wounds are left undressed or when wounds are on the body. A previous study showed that short-term administration of proteins derived from orf virus dampened inflammation and promoted epithelialisation of open wounds in horses. Here, we investigated the impact of orf virus interleukin-10 and vascular endothelial growth factor-E on the development and resolution of EGT. Excis...
Adams AP, Santschi EM, Mellencamp MA.A silver chloride-coated nylon wound dressing (Ag-WD) was evaluated in vitro for antimicrobial activity against five common equine wound pathogens. Methods: Bacterial susceptibility study. Methods: Equine wound pathogens: Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus, and Staphylococcus aureus. Methods: An inoculum of each pathogen was incubated directly with Ag-WD and quantitated after 24 to 48 hours of incubation. To determine if bactericidal activity of Ag-WD was contact dependent, an inoculum of E. coli and Staphylococcus aureu...
Celeste CJ, Deschene K, Riley CB, Theoret CL.Wound repair in horse limbs is often complicated by the development of exuberant granulation tissue (EGT) and excessive scarring while body wounds tend to repair uneventfully. EGT resembles the human keloid. While the events leading to keloid formation are not fully elucidated, tissue hypoxia has been proposed as a major contributing factor. The objective of this study was to investigate tissue oxygen saturation in healing full-thickness wounds created on the horse limb and body, using near-infrared spectroscopy. Spectroscopic reflectance data were collected from both anatomic sites at specifi...
Aguiar C, Therrien J, Lemire P, Segura M, Smith LC, Theoret CL.Skin trauma in horses often leads to the development of chronic nonhealing wounds that lack a keratinocyte cover, vital for healing. Reports in mouse and man confirm the possibility of generating functional keratinocytes from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC), thus presenting myriad potential applications for wound management or treatment of skin disease. Similarly, differentiation of equine iPSC (eiPSC) into a keratinocyte lineage should provide opportunities for the advancement of veterinary regenerative medicine. Objective: The purpose of this study was to develop an efficient method fo...
Sells PD, Pinchbeck G, Mezzane H, Ibourki J, Crane M.Wounds are one of the primary welfare concerns of working equids and are often related to harness or load-bearing packs. Objective: To identify and quantify factors associated with the presence of pack wounds in donkeys and mules working in the wood trade in the Midelt (Northern High Atlas) region of Morocco, and to compare wounds of these donkeys and mules to those working in other trades. Methods: The study population comprised equids working in the Midelt region involved in the wood trade. Comparison populations were comprised of equids working in other trades, in the same region and in Khe...
Hardefeldt LY, Browning GF, Thursky K, Gilkerson JR, Billman-Jacobe H, Stevenson MA, Bailey KE.Antimicrobials are widely used in Australian veterinary practices, but no investigation into the classes of antimicrobials used, or the appropriateness of use in horses, has been conducted. Objective: The aim of the study was to describe antimicrobial use for surgical prophylaxis in equine practice in Australia. Methods: Cross-sectional questionnaire survey. Methods: An online questionnaire was used to document antimicrobial usage patterns. Information solicited in the questionnaire included demographic details of the respondents, the frequency with which antimicrobials were used for specific ...
Olofsson TC, Butler É, Lindholm C, Nilson B, Michanek P, Vásquez A.In the global perspective of antibiotic resistance, it is urgent to find potent topical antibiotics for the use in human and animal infection. Healing of equine wounds, particularly in the limbs, is difficult due to hydrostatic factors and exposure to environmental contaminants, which can lead to heavy bio-burden/biofilm formation and sometimes to infection. Therefore, antibiotics are often prescribed. Recent studies have shown that honeybee-specific lactic acid bacteria (LAB), involved in honey production, and inhibit human wound pathogens. The aim of this pilot study was to investigate the e...
Bigbie RB, Schumacher J, Swaim SF, Purohit RC, Wright JC.Equine amnion and live yeast cell derivative were evaluated as a biological dressing and as a topical wound medicament respectively, in the treatment of granulating wounds of the distal portion of the limbs of horses. Wounds measuring 2.5 x 2.5 cm were created on the dorsomedial aspect of the metacarpal and metatarsal region of all 4 limbs of 9 horses. Each wound was assigned randomly to 1 of 3 treatment groups: group C, treated with a nonadherent bandage as a control; group A, treated with amnion beneath a nonadherent bandage; and group L, treated with live yeast cell derivative beneath a non...
Honnas CM, Cohen ND.To determine the prevalence of wound infection following celiotomy in horses and to determine risk factors associated with the development of such infections. Methods: Prospective study. Methods: 210 horses that had 235 celiotomies. Methods: All horses that had celiotomies between March 1990 and March 1992 were considered for this study. Only horses that survived > or = 10 days after surgery were included in analysis of risk factors for postoperative wound infection. Results: Of the 210 horses, 161 (76.7%) were discharged; of the horses discharged, 147 horses had a single celiotomy and 14 had ...
Link KA, Koenig JB, Silveira A, Plattner BL, Lillie BN.To compare the effect of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) on expression of fibroblast growth factor-7 (FGF-7), transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), platelet-derived growth factor-A (PDGF), and vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF) in skin with surgically created skin wounds and intact skin in horses. Methods: 14 healthy horses. Methods: 8 horses were treated with ESWT at 6 locations along the neck at 36, 24, 12, 6, 2, or 1 hour prior to collection of full-thickness biopsy specimens from each location; a control specimen was collected fro...
Tracey AK, Alcott CJ, Schleining JA, Safayi S, Zaback PC, Hostetter JM, Reinertson EL.Topical oxygen therapy (TOT) has been used in human medicine to promote healing in chronic wounds. To test the efficacy and safety of TOT in horses, an experimental wound model was created by making 1 standardized dermal wound on each limb of 4 healthy horses (n = 16). Each wound was fitted with an oxygen delivery cannula and covered with a bandage. One limb of each front and hind pair was randomly assigned to the treatment group (fitted with an oxygen concentrator device), with the contralateral limb assigned to the control group (no device). Wound area, epithelial area, and contraction were ...
Tessier L, Côté O, Clark ME, Viel L, Diaz-Méndez A, Anders S, Bienzle D.Severe equine asthma is a chronic inflammatory condition of the lower airways similar to adult-onset asthma in humans. Exacerbations are characterized by bronchial and bronchiolar neutrophilic inflammation, mucus hypersecretion and airway constriction. In this study we analyzed the gene expression response of the bronchial epithelium within groups of asthmatic and non-asthmatic animals following exposure to a dusty hay challenge. After challenge we identified 2341 and 120 differentially expressed genes in asthmatic and non-asthmatic horses, respectively. Gene set enrichment analysis of changes...
Berry DB, Sullins KE.To determine whether povidone iodine ointment or 2 forms of silver sulfadiazine applied topically to wounds of the distal aspect of the limbs in horses affect the rate of second intention healing and to evaluate the additional influence of bandaging with these antimicrobials on granulation tissue formation. Methods: 6 healthy adult horses. Methods: Six standardized 2.5-cm2 skin wounds/horse were distributed between the dorsomedial surfaces of the metacarpi and metatarsi. One of the following 6 treatments was applied to each wound: 1% silver sulfadiazine cream with bandage, 1% silver sulfadiazi...
Gustafsson K, Tatz AJ, Slavin RA, Sutton GA, Dahan R, Ahmad WA, Kelmer G.Medical grade honey has previously been described as a prophylactic treatment for wounds. Local prophylactic treatment may be valuable in preventing post-operative incisional infections in horses undergoing colic surgery but has not been evaluated. Objective: To establish whether medical grade honey gel, applied on the linea alba intraoperatively, decreases the prevalence of incisional infections in horses undergoing colic surgery with no associated adverse effects. Methods: Prospective blinded randomised controlled clinical study. Methods: Horses older than 4 months that underwent colic surg...
Harman RM, Bihun IV, Van de Walle GR.The prevalence of cutaneous fibroproliferative disorders (CFPDs) is high and almost exclusively occurs in humans (keloids and hypertrophic scars) and horses (exuberant granulation tissue), making the horse a valuable translational model for studies on prevention and treatment of human CFPDs. CFPDs arise as a result of dysregulated wound healing characterized by persistently high levels of cytokines, such as transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1), that contribute to excessive extracellular matrix deposition, and the physical disorganization of dermal fibroblasts (DF). The mesenchymal strom...
Broeckx SY, Borena BM, Van Hecke L, Chiers K, Maes S, Guest DJ, Meyer E, Duchateau L, Martens A, Spaas JH.Several studies report beneficial effects of autologous and allogeneic stem cells on wound healing. However, no comparison between autologous versus allogeneic epithelial-like stem cells (EpSCs) has been made so far. For this reason, we first hypothesize that both EpSC types enhance wound healing in comparison to vehicle treatment and untreated controls. Second, on the basis of other studies, we hypothesized that there would be no difference between autologous and allogeneic EpSCs. Methods: Twelve full-thickness skin wounds were created in six horses. Each horse was subjected to (i) autologous...
Wilmink JM, van Herten J, van Weeren PR, Barneveld A.In accidental wounds, trauma and infection can result in dehiscence of primarily closed wounds and in sequestrum formation when cortical bone is exposed. In experimental studies, it has been shown that second intention healing is faster and occurs with less complications in ponies than in horses. Also, a greater initial inflammatory response was seen in ponies. Based on these experimental data, it was hypothesised that accidental wounds in ponies would heal with a lower incidence of wound dehiscence and/or sequestrum formation compared to horses. A retrospective study of 89 ponies and 422 hors...
van den Boom R, Wilmink JM, O'Kane S, Wood J, Ferguson MW.Wound healing in horses is often complicated by wound infection, exuberant granulation tissue, and hypertrophic scars, especially when wounds are located on the limbs. Wound healing in ponies is less problematic, characterized by a greater degree of wound contraction and a more intense initial inflammatory response. Because both processes are influenced by transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta), it was hypothesized that the better wound healing in ponies was associated with different TGF-beta profiles. A series of small wounds was created on the distal limbs and hindquarters of ponies and ...
Broeckx SY, Maes S, Martinello T, Aerts D, Chiers K, Mariën T, Patruno M, Franco-Obregón A, Spaas JH.Besides the presence of somatic stem cells in hair follicles and dermis, the epidermis also contains a subpopulation of stem cells, reflecting its high regenerative capacity. However, only limited information concerning epidermis-derived epithelial-like stem/progenitor cells (EpSCs) is available to date. Nonetheless, this stem cell type could prove itself useful in skin reconstitution after injury. After harvesting from equine epidermis, the purified cells were characterized as EpSCs by means of positive expression for CD29, CD44, CD49f, CD90, Casein Kinase 2β, p63, and Ki67, low expression f...
Jørgensen E, Bay L, Bjarnsholt T, Bundgaard L, Sørensen MA, Jacobsen S.In humans, biofilm is a well-known cause of delayed healing and low-grade inflammation of chronic wounds. In horses, biofilm formation in wounds has been studied to a very limited degree. The objective of this study was thus to investigate the occurrence of biofilm in equine experimental wounds healing by secondary intention. Tissue biopsies from non-contaminated, experimental excisional shoulder and limb wounds were obtained on day 1-2, day 7-10 and day 14-15 post-wounding. Limb wounds were either un-bandaged or bandaged to induce exuberant granulation tissue (EGT) formation and thereby impai...
