FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 9000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Home / Equine Research Bank / Vet Anim Sci / Efficacy of chitosan in the treatment of chronic skin lesion...
Veterinary and animal science2022; 17; 100261; doi: 10.1016/j.vas.2022.100261

Efficacy of chitosan in the treatment of chronic skin lesions in a horse: A case report.

Abstract: Consultation was requested for a 7-year-old Gypsy Vanner male horse with a 2-year history of foreskin injury. Upon revision, an ulcer, 153 cm2 in size, with yellowish granules was observed; a RESVECH 2.0 evaluation revealed a score of 32/35 points. Medical history confirmed multiple failed deworming, anti-inflammatory, and antibiotic treatments with different topical therapies and recurrence in summer. Laboratory results confirmed elevated total proteins (8.8 g/dL) and globulins (5.5 g/dL), negative bacterial and fungal cultures, as well as negative coproparasitoscopic findings, and finally, identification of stable fly larvae (Stomoxys calcitrans) in the feces. Microscopy showed disorganized collagen, thickened tissue, polymorphonuclear cells, and acanthosis without neoplastic tissue or parasite remains. Debridement was performed and systemic treatment with ivermectin, penicillin, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) continued. In addition, 2% chitosan gel and films were applied to the entire surface of the lesion for 72 hours on 30 occasions; vector control with nets and insecticides was performed. On day 94, there was a 6 cm2 surface with involvement of the dermal and epidermal layers, moist epithelial tissue, and diffuse edges, with a RESVECH 2.0 evaluation of 6/35 points. Microscopy showed an intact basement membrane, presence of hair follicles, sweat glands, aligned collagen, and angiogenesis. It was concluded that chronic skin lesions in horses represent a diagnostic challenge, and topical chitosan is an adequate treatment due to its biocompatibility and efficacy, in addition to the functional and cosmetic results in dermal regeneration.
© 2022 The Author(s).
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2022-06-29 PubMed ID: 35856003PubMed Central: PMC9287356DOI: 10.1016/j.vas.2022.100261Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
LinkedInCopy
  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research presents a case study of a horse’s chronic skin lesions successfully treated with a topical chitosan gel.

Background

  • The case involves a 7-year-old male Gypsy Vanner horse that had been suffering from a chronic foreskin injury for two years.
  • At the beginning of the study, the horse had a 153 cm ulcer, indicated by yellowish granules. Crucially, the horse had a history of failed treatments, including deworming, anti-inflammatory, and antibiotic therapies, especially in the summer.

Initial Assessment and Treatments

  • Initial laboratory tests showed elevated total proteins and globulins, no bacterial and fungal presence, no findings related to coproparasitoscopic tests, and the identification of stable fly larvae in the feces.
  • Micrometry displayed disarrayed collagen, intensified tissue, polymorphonuclear cells, and acanthosis, but no traces of neoplastic tissue or parasite remains.
  • The horse was debrided (dead tissue removed) and treated with ivermectin, penicillin, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), continuing the systemic approach that was previously attempted.

Introduction and Application of Chitosan

  • In addition to previous treatments, a 2% chitosan gel and films were employed covering the entire lesion surface for 72 hours on 30 occasions. This was complemented by vector control with nets and insecticides.

Improvement and Final Assessments

  • By day 94, the dermal and epidermal involvement had decreased to a 6 cm size with moist epithelial tissue and diffuse edges. At this point, the RESVECH 2.0 evaluation score, used for assessing equine skin wounds, dropped to 6/35 points.
  • Microscopic analysis exhibited an intact basement membrane with the return of hair follicles, sweat glands, arranged collagen, and angiogenesis (formation of blood vessels).

Conclusion

  • The horse’s chronic skin lesions represented a significant veterinary challenge. The research concluded that the application of topical chitosan offered a relevant solution due to its adequate biocompatibility and efficacy.
  • The application of chitosan led to both functional and cosmetic improvements in dermal regeneration, proving it to be an effective treatment for similar cases in future.

Cite This Article

APA
Maldonado-Cabrera B, Sánchez-Machado DI, López-Cervantes J, Osuna-Chávez RF, Ibarra-Zazueta C, Robles-Zepeda RE. (2022). Efficacy of chitosan in the treatment of chronic skin lesions in a horse: A case report. Vet Anim Sci, 17, 100261. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vas.2022.100261

Publication

Veterinary and animal science
ISSN: 2451-943X
NlmUniqueID: 101694897
Country: Netherlands
Language: English
Volume: 17
Pages: 100261

Researcher Affiliations

Maldonado-Cabrera, Blayra
  • Instituto Tecnologico de Sonora, Ciudad Obregon, MX-85000, Sonora, Mexico.
Sánchez-Machado, Dalia I
  • Instituto Tecnologico de Sonora, Ciudad Obregon, MX-85000, Sonora, Mexico.
López-Cervantes, Jaime
  • Instituto Tecnologico de Sonora, Ciudad Obregon, MX-85000, Sonora, Mexico.
Osuna-Chávez, Reyna F
  • Universidad de Sonora, Hermosillo, MX-83000, Sonora, Mexico.
Ibarra-Zazueta, Cristina
  • Universidad de Sonora, Hermosillo, MX-83000, Sonora, Mexico.
Robles-Zepeda, Ramón E
  • Universidad de Sonora, Hermosillo, MX-83000, Sonora, Mexico.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

References

This article includes 24 references
  1. Anantama NA, Du Cheyne C, Martens A, Roth SP, Burk J, De Spiegelaere W, Michler JK. The granulation (t)issue: A narrative and scoping review of basic and clinical research of the equine distal limb exuberant wound healing disorder.. The Veterinary Journal 2022;280.
    doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2022.105790pubmed: 35093532google scholar: lookup
  2. Bano I, Arshad M, Yasin T, Ghauri MA, Younus M. Chitosan: A potential biopolymer for wound management.. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules 2017;102:380–383.
    doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2017.04.047pubmed: 28412341google scholar: lookup
  3. Cai H, Li G. Efficacy of alginate-and chitosan-based scaffolds on the healing of diabetic skin wounds in animal experimental models and cell studies: A systematic review.. Wound Repair and Regeneration 2020;28(6):751–771.
    doi: 10.1111/wrr.12857pubmed: 32861223google scholar: lookup
  4. Constable P.D., Hinchcliff K.W., Done S.H., Grünberg W. Veterinary Medicine (11th ed., pp. 1540–1661) Elsevier; 2017. Diseases of the skin, eye, conjunctiva, and external ear.
    doi: 10.1016/B978-0-7020-5246-0.00016-4google scholar: lookup
  5. Cukjati D, Reberšek S, Miklavčič D. A reliable method of determining wound healing rate.. Medical & Biological Engineering & Computing 2001;39(2):263–271.
    doi: 10.1007/BF02344811pubmed: 11361254google scholar: lookup
  6. El-Deeb W, Iacob O, Fayez M, Elgioushy M, Shawaf T, Ibrahim A. Acute phase proteins, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor, nitric oxide and oxidative stress markers in horses with cutaneous habronemosis under field condition.. Veterinary Parasitology 2018;255(January):20–25.
    doi: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2018.03.023pubmed: 29773131google scholar: lookup
  7. Escárcega-Galaz AA, Cruz-Mercado JLD La, López-Cervantes J, Sánchez-Machado DI, Brito-Zurita OR, Ornelas-Aguirre JM. Chitosan treatment for skin ulcers associated with diabetes.. Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences 2018;25(1):130–135.
    doi: 10.1016/j.sjbs.2017.03.017pmc: PMC5775090pubmed: 29379369google scholar: lookup
  8. Ferrari R, Boracchi P, Romussi S, Ravasio G, Stefanello D. Application of hyaluronic acid in the healing of non-experimental open wounds: A pilot study on 12 wounds in 10 client-owned dogs.. Veterinary World 2015;8(10):1247–1259.
    doi: 10.14202/vetworld.2015.1247-1259pmc: PMC4774664pubmed: 27047026google scholar: lookup
  9. Hernández-Martínez-Esparza E, Santesmases-Masana R, Román E, Abades Porcel M, Torner Busquet A, Berenguer Pérez M, Verdú-Soriano J. Prevalence and characteristics of older people with pressure ulcers and legs ulcers, in nursing homes in Barcelona.. Journal of Tissue Viability 2021;30(1):108–115.
    doi: 10.1016/j.jtv.2021.01.003pubmed: 33485786google scholar: lookup
  10. Jothi NA, Balagopalan TP, Rameshkumar B, Vishnu SJ, Arocklanathan M. Use of biocomposite films impregnated with silver nanoparticles along with therapeutic ultrasound for management of metacarpal fracture in a pony.. Intas Polivet 2014;15(1):171–173.
  11. Lavy E, Kirmayer D, Nudelman Z, Orenshtein-Vilensky L, Rowan TG, Shenderovich-Gefter J, Friedman M. Aspects in controlled drug delivery for topical applications in veterinary medicine.. Veterinary and Animal Science 2022;15.
    doi: 10.1016/j.vas.2022.100235pmc: PMC8899706pubmed: 35265770google scholar: lookup
  12. López-Cervantes J, Escárcega-Galaz AA, Sánchez-Machado DI, De La Cruz-Mercado JL, Pérez-Gómez LE, Ornelas-Aguirre JM. Characterization and efficacy of chitosan membranes in the treatment of skin ulcers.. Egyptian Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences 2019;6(1):195–205.
    doi: 10.1080/2314808X.2019.1694734google scholar: lookup
  13. Maldonado-Cabrera B, Sánchez-Machado DI, López-Cervantes J, Osuna-Chávez RF, Escárcega-Galaz AA, Robles-Zepeda RE, Sanches-Silva A. Therapeutic effects of chitosan in veterinary dermatology: a systematic review of the literature.. Preventive Veterinary Medicine 2021;190.
    doi: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2021.105325pubmed: 33744675google scholar: lookup
  14. Moon R.D. Medical and Veterinary Entomology (Issue 1985) Elsevier Inc; 2018. Muscid flies (muscidae)
    doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-814043-7.00017-0google scholar: lookup
  15. Mottet RS, Moon RD, Hathaway MR, Martinson KL. Effectiveness of Stable Fly Protectants on Adult Horses.. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science 2018;69:11–15.
    doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2018.06.002google scholar: lookup
  16. Napavichayanun S, Aramwit P. Effect of animal products and extracts on wound healing promotion in topical applications: a review.. Journal of Biomaterials Science, Polymer Edition 2017;28(8):703–729.
    doi: 10.1080/09205063.2017.1301772pubmed: 28278044google scholar: lookup
  17. Salant H, Rojas A, Yardeny D, Brenner O, Schvartz G, Baneth G, Dvir E. Cutaneous habronemosis in horses: First molecular characterization of Habronema muscae in Israel.. Comparative Immunology, Microbiology and Infectious Diseases 2021;75(December 2020).
    doi: 10.1016/j.cimid.2020.101608pubmed: 33383475google scholar: lookup
  18. Sánchez-Machado D.I., López-Cervantes J., Correa-Murrieta M.A., Sánchez-Duarte R.G., Cruz-Flores P., Servín De la Mora-López G. Nonvitamin and Nonmineral Nutritional Supplements. Elsevier Inc; 2019. Chitosan; pp. 485–493.
    doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-812491-8.00064-3google scholar: lookup
  19. Shahzadi L, Bashir M, Tehseen S, Zehra M, Mehmood A, Chaudhry AA, Rehman Iur, Yar M. Thyroxine impregnated chitosan-based dressings stimulate angiogenesis and support fast wounds healing in rats: Potential clinical candidates.. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules 2020;160:296–306.
    doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2020.05.127pubmed: 32439438google scholar: lookup
  20. Tyrnenopoulou P, Diakakis N, Psalla D, Traversa D, Papadopoulos E, Antonakakis M. Successful surgical management of eosinophilic granuloma on the urethral process of a gelding associated with Habronema spp. infection.. Equine Veterinary Education 2019;31(1):e1–e4.
    doi: 10.1111/eve.12890google scholar: lookup
  21. Verhaar N, Hermans H, Van Rooij E, Van Oldruitenborgh-Oosterbaan MS, Ensink J. Case series: Periocular habronemiasis in five horses in the Netherlands.. Veterinary Record 2018;182(26):746.
    doi: 10.1136/vr.104265pubmed: 29695450google scholar: lookup
  22. Williams R, Gordon-Evans W, Biskup J, Griffon D. Evaluation of cosmetic results of surgical wund closure in dogs.. Veterinary Evidence 2018;3(1):1–10.
  23. Wobeser B.K. Skin Diseases in Horses. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Equine Practice. 2015;31(2):359–376. doi: 10.1016/j.cveq.2015.04.007.
    doi: 10.1016/j.cveq.2015.04.007pubmed: 26037605google scholar: lookup
  24. Yanagibayashi S, Kishimoto S, Ishihara M, Murakami K, Aoki H, Takikawa M, Fujita M, Sekido M, Kiyosawa T. Novel hydrocolloid-sheet as wound dressing to stimulate healing-impaired wound healing in diabetic db/db mice.. Bio-Medical Materials and Engineering 2012;22(5):301–310.
    doi: 10.3233/BME-2012-0720pubmed: 23023147google scholar: lookup

Citations

This article has been cited 2 times.
  1. Broda M, Yelle DJ, Serwańska-Leja K. Biodegradable Polymers in Veterinary Medicine-A Review. Molecules 2024 Feb 17;29(4).
    doi: 10.3390/molecules29040883pubmed: 38398635google scholar: lookup
  2. Sánchez-Machado DI, Maldonado-Cabrera A, López-Cervantes J, Maldonado-Cabrera B, Chávez-Almanza AF. Therapeutic effects of electrospun chitosan nanofibers on animal skin wounds: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Pharm X 2023 Dec;5:100175.
    doi: 10.1016/j.ijpx.2023.100175pubmed: 36950662google scholar: lookup
Subscribe to our newsletter
Join 99,357 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.