Chlorhexidine is Superior to Ozonized Water in the Reduction of the Oral Cavity Microbiota of Horses.

Overview

• This study compared the effectiveness of chlorhexidine mouthwash to ozonized water in reducing oral bacteria in horses.
• It found chlorhexidine to be more effective at lowering the number of bacteria in the equine oral cavity after a single mouth rinse.

Background and Rationale

• Oral procedures in horses are common but can lead to complications if bacteria contaminate the area or if antisepsis is inadequate.
• Bacterial resistance to antimicrobials is a significant concern, indicating a need for new, effective antiseptic treatments in veterinary care.
• Ozonized water and chlorhexidine are two antiseptic options; this study sought to evaluate their relative effectiveness specifically in horses.

Study Design and Methods

• The study involved 50 adult horses from which oral cavity swabs were collected initially to culture and identify microbes.
• Horses were split into two groups of 25 each: one group received a mouth rinse with 0.12% chlorhexidine solution, the other with 100 µg/ml ozonized injectable water.
• Post-treatment, oral swabs were collected again for culturing to assess changes in bacterial populations.
• Microbial analysis focused on counting colony-forming units (CFUs) and identifying the presence of microbial genera before and after treatment.

Microorganisms Identified

• The primary bacterial genera isolated included coagulase-negative staphylococci, among others (not fully listed in the abstract).
• Yeast cells were also identified in some samples.
• The first three identified genera (including coagulase-negative staphylococci) were the most prevalent, present in over 70% of the horses.

Results

• Chlorhexidine showed greater effectiveness in reducing both the number of CFUs and the presence of microbial genera compared to ozonized water.
• A single mouth rinse with the 100 µg/ml ozonized water solution was insufficient to significantly reduce oral microbial load in healthy horses.
• The study reinforced chlorhexidine’s known antiseptic efficacy in veterinary oral care.

Conclusions and Implications

• This research confirmed that chlorhexidine is superior to ozonized water for oral antisepsis in horses after one treatment.
• It highlights the critical importance of effective antiseptic procedures to minimize bacterial contamination and avoid complications related to oral procedures in equines.
• The findings caution against relying solely on ozonized water for oral antisepsis and support continued use of chlorhexidine as a gold standard in veterinary dental hygiene.