Biofilm evidence and the microbial diversity of horse wounds.

The research article investigates the presence of biofilms in chronic wounds of horses and explores the microbial diversity found in these wounds. The study identifies biofilms in horse wounds for the first time and highlights the importance of combining different analytical techniques for a thorough microbiological examination.

Objective and Methodology

• The primary aim of the research was to determine whether biofilms, which are known to impede healing in human chronic wounds, could also be detected in the wounds of horses. Furthermore, the researchers sought to investigate the microbial diversity in these chronic wounds.
• Prior to analysis, all wounds were cleaned with a sterile saline solution and swabbed twice using sterile cotton-tipped swabs. Two tissue biopsies were also performed to provide more extensive data about the microbial environment and potential evidence of biofilms.
• All samples were transported to a lab in a particular broth known as Robertson’s cooked meat broth. At the lab, traditional culture-based techniques, along with denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) combined with polymerase chain reaction (PCR), were used to isolate and identify the bacteria present in the wounds.

Findings and Conclusions

• An analysis of the biopsy samples revealed clear evidence of biofilms, marking the first time biofilms have been found in horse chronic wounds. This discovery suggests that, like in humans, biofilms may affect the healing process in horses.
• The most commonly isolated bacteria were Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Serratia marcescens, Enterococcus faecalis, and Providencia rettgeri. These bacteria could potentially influence the wound healing process in horses significantly, indicating areas for further investigation.
• Using DGGE-PCR in conjunction with traditional culture techniques, allowed for a more comprehensive microbiological analysis of the wounds. The study underscores the essential role of these combined techniques in studying chronic wounds. Furthermore, the use of 16S ribosomal DNA sequencing, based on DGGE profiles, enabled the identification of additional bacterial species that were not detected using culture techniques alone.
• Overall, the findings suggest that a more comprehensive approach to wound analysis and microbiology is essential, with DGGE-PCR and culture techniques offering complementary benefits. The presence of biofilms indicates a potential avenue for further research, as do the various bacterial species identified.