The influence of clinical severity and topical antimicrobial treatment on bacteriological culture and the microbiota of equine pastern dermatitis.
Abstract: Equine pastern dermatitis (EPD) is a common dermatological problem in horses, yet its aetiology and pathogenesis are poorly understood. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effects of lesion severity and topical antimicrobial treatment on bacterial flora of EPD-affected skin. Methods: Sixteen horses with EPD were investigated. Methods: An observational study was conducted by assigning a clinical severity score ranging from 0 (macroscopically nonlesional) to 21 (severe), and sampling the most and least severely affected limbs of 16 horses (32 limbs) for bacteriological culture and 16S rRNA sequencing. Topical antimicrobial treatment in the month before sampling was recorded. The limbs were allocated to a nonlesional or mildly affected group (Group A, score 0-3) and a moderate to severely affected group (Group B, score 4-21). Results: The most commonly cultured bacterial species was Staphylococcus aureus (one of 15 Group A versus nine of 17 Group B). Within Group B, S. aureus was found in three of six limbs treated with topical antimicrobials and in six of 11 untreated limbs. β-haemolytic streptococci (three of 32) and Trueperella pyogenes (two of 32) also were cultured exclusively in the untreated limbs of Group B. Staphylococci and streptococci were found more often by 16S rRNA sequencing than in culture. Limbs with higher lesion severity and topical antimicrobial treatment appeared to have a lower alpha diversity and different beta diversity compared to milder and untreated lesions. Conclusions: Observed differences in microbiota of equine skin are likely to be linked to the presence and severity of EPD and topical antimicrobial treatment. Further research is needed to establish causal bacteria. Background: La dermatite des paturons équine (EPD) est un problème dermatologique fréquent chez le cheval bien que son étiologie et sa pathogénie soient peu connues. Objective: Cette étude a pour but d’étudier les effets de la sévérité des lésions et un traitement antibiotique sur la flore bactérienne de la peau atteinte d’EPD. Unassigned: Seize chevaux atteints d’EPD ont été étudiés. MÉTHODES: Une étude d’observation a été conduite en attribuant un score de sévérité clinique allant de 0 (macroscopiquement non lésionnel) à 21 (sévère), et en prélevant les membres les plus et les moins sévèrement atteints de 16 chevaux (32 membres) pour culture bactériologique et séquençage d’ARNr16S. Le traitement antibiotique du mois précédent les prélèvements a été enregistré. Les membres ont été répartis à un groupe non lésionnel ou modérément atteint (groupe A, score 0-3) et un groupe d’atteinte modéré à sévère (Groupe B, score 4-21). RÉSULTATS: L’espèce la plus fréquemment cultivée était Staphylococcus aureus (un sur 15 du Groupe A versus neuf sur 17 du Groupe B). Pour le Groupe B, S. aureus a été trouvé dans trois des six membres ayant reçus des antibiotiques et dans six des 11 membres non traités. Streptocoque β-haemolytique (trois sur 32) et Trueperella pyogenes (deux sur 32) ont aussi été cultivées exclusivement à partir de membres non traités du Groupe B. Staphylocoques et streptocoques ont été trouvés plus souvent par séquençage de 16S rRNA que par culture. Les membres avec des lésions plus sévères et un traitement antibiotique semblent avoir une plus faible diversité alpha et une diversité beta différente comparé aux lésions modérées ou non traitées. Unassigned: Les différences observées de microbiote de la peau équine sont probablement à lier à la présence et la sévérité de l’EPD et au traitement antibiotique. D’autres recherches sont nécessaires pour établir une bactérie causale. INTRODUCCIÓN: la dermatitis de la cuartilla equina (EPD) es un problema dermatológico común en los caballos, sin embargo, su etiología y patogenia son poco conocidas. OBJETIVOS: este estudio tuvo como objetivo investigar los efectos de la gravedad de la lesión y el tratamiento con antibióticos en la flora bacteriana de la piel afectada por EPD. ANIMALES: se investigaron dieciséis caballos con EPD. MÉTODOS: se realizó un estudio observacional mediante la asignación de una valoración de severidad clínica que variaba de 0 (macroscópicamente no lesionado) a 21 (grave), y se tomaron muestras de las extremidades más y menos gravemente afectadas de 16 caballos (32 extremidades) para cultivo bacteriológico y secuenciación de rRNA 16S. Se registró el tratamiento con antibióticos en el mes anterior al muestreo. Las extremidades se asignaron a un grupo no lesionado o levemente afectado (Grupo A, puntuación 0-3) y un grupo moderado a gravemente afectado (Grupo B, puntuación 4-21). RESULTADOS: la especie bacteriana cultivada con mayor frecuencia fue Staphylococcus aureus (una de las 15 del Grupo A frente a nueve de las 17 del Grupo B). Dentro del Grupo B, se encontró S. aureus en tres de las seis extremidades tratadas con antibióticos y en seis de las 11 extremidades no tratadas. Estreptococos β-hemolíticos (tres de 32) y Trueperella pyogenes (dos de 32) también se cultivaron exclusivamente en las extremidades no tratadas del Grupo B. Los estafilococos y estreptococos se encontraron con más frecuencia mediante secuenciación de rRNA 16S que en cultivo. Las extremidades con mayor gravedad de la lesión y el tratamiento con antibióticos parecían tener una menor diversidad alfa y diferente diversidad beta en comparación con las lesiones más leves y no tratadas. CONCLUSIONES E IMPORTANCIA CLÍNICA: es probable que las diferencias observadas en la microbiota de la piel equina estén relacionadas con la presencia y la gravedad de la EPD y el tratamiento con antibióticos. Se necesita más investigación para establecer las bacterias causales. Unassigned: Die Equine Pastern Dermatitis (EPD; Hautentzündung der distalen Gliedmaßen beim Pferd) ist ein häufiges dermatologisches Problem bei Pferden, wobei allerdings die Ätiologie und Pathogenese schlecht abgeklärt sind. Unassigned: Diese Studie zielte darauf ab, die Auswirkungen der Schwere der Läsionen und einer antibiotischen Behandlung auf die Bakterienflora der von EPD-betroffenen Haut zu untersuchen. Unassigned: Sechzehn Pferde mit EPD wurden untersucht. Methods: Es wurde eine Beobachtungsstudie erstellt, indem ein klinischer Schweregrad von 0 (makroskopisch nicht-läsional) bis 21 (schwer) zugeteilt, sowie eine Probenentnahme zur Bakterienkultur und für eine 16S rRNA Sequenzierung an den am meisten und am wenigsten betroffenen Gliedmaßen der 16 Pferde (32 Gliedmaßen) durchgeführt wurde. Eine antibiotische Behandlung im Monat vor der Probenentnahme wurde festgehalten. Die Gliedmaßen wurden in eine nicht-läsionale oder mild betroffene Gruppe (Gruppe A, Grad 0-3) und eine moderat bis schwer betroffene Gruppe (Gruppe B, Grad 4-21) eingeteilt. Unassigned: Die am häufigsten kultivierte bakterielle Spezies war Staphylococcus aureus (einer von 15 in Gruppe A versus neun von 17 in Gruppe B). Innerhalb von Gruppe B wurde S. aureus bei drei von sechs mit Antibiotika behandelten Gliedmaßen gefunden sowie in sechs von 11 unbehandelten Gliedmaßen. Es wurden außerdem β-hämolytische Streptokokken (drei von 32) und Trueperella pyogenes (zwei von 32) ausschließlich in den unbehandelten Extremitäten von Gruppe B kultiviert. Staphylokokken und Streptokokken wurden häufiger mittels 16S rRNA Sequenzierung als durch eine Kultur gefunden. Gliedmaßen mit einem höheren Schweregrad der Läsionen und antibiotischer Behandlung hatten scheinbar eine niedrigere Alpha Diversität und eine unterschiedliche Beta Diversität im Vergleich zu milderen und unbehandelten Läsionen. Unassigned: Die beobachteten Unterschiede der Mikrobiota der Pferdehaut stehen wahrscheinlich im Zusammenhang mit dem Auftreten und dem Schweregrad der EPD und der antimikrobiellen Behandlung. Es sind weitere Studien nötig, um die verursachenden Bakterien zu finden. 背景: 馬繋皸(EPD)は、馬によく見られる皮膚科学的問題であるが、その病因及び発症機序はあまり把握されていない。 目的: 本研究の目的は、EPDに罹患した皮膚の細菌叢に対する病変の重症度及び抗生物質治療の影響を調査することであった。 被験動物: EPDに罹患した16頭の馬を調査した。 方法: 観察研究は、0(肉眼的に非病変) から21(重度) の範囲の臨床重症度スコアを割り当て、細菌培養検査および16S rRNAシーケンス法のため16頭の馬(32肢) の最も深刻な罹患肢及び最も深刻でない肢からサンプリングした。サンプリングの前月の抗生物質治療を記録した。四肢を、非病変または軽度の罹患グループ (グループA、スコア0〜3)および中程度から重度の罹患グループ (グループB、スコア4〜21)に割り当てた。 結果: 最も一般的に培養された細菌種は黄色ブドウ球菌であった (グループAのうちの1/15対グループBのうちの9/17) 。グループB内では、黄色ブドウ球菌は抗生物質で治療された6肢のうち3肢、および11肢の未治療肢のうち6肢で発見された。 β溶血性連鎖球菌(32肢中3肢) およびTrueperella pyogenes(32肢中2肢) も、グループBの未治療肢でのみ培養された。ブドウ球菌および連鎖球菌は、培養検査よりも16SrRNAシーケンス法によってより頻繁に検出された。病変の重症度が高く抗生物質治療を施された肢は、軽度の未治療病変と比較して、α多様性が低く、β多様性が異なった。 結論と臨床的重要性: 馬の皮膚の微生物相で観察された違いは、EPDの重症度及び抗生物質治療の存在に関連している可能性がある。原因菌を確立するには、さらなる研究が必要である。. 背景: 马骹皮炎(EPD)是马常见的皮肤病, 但对其病因和发病机制知之甚少。 目的: 本研究旨在探讨病变严重程度和抗生素治疗对EPD发病皮肤的菌群影响。 动物: 研究16匹EPD马。 方法: 通过指定范围为0 (无肉眼可见病变) 至21 (重度) 的临床严重程度评分进行观察性研究, 并对16匹马 (32条肢体) 最严重和最不严重的发病肢体采样, 进行细菌学培养和16S rRNA测序。记录采样前1个月抗生素治疗情况。将肢体分为非病变或轻度发病组 (a组, 评分0-3) 和中度至重度发病组 (B组, 评分4-21) 。 结果: 最常培养的细菌种类是金黄色葡萄球菌 (A组15种中的1种与B组17种中的9种) 。B组内, 用抗生素治疗的6个肢体中有3个发现金黄色葡萄球菌, 而未治疗的11个肢体中有6个发现金黄色葡萄球菌。只在B组未治疗肢体中培养出β-溶血性链球菌 (32个中有3个) 和化脓隐秘杆菌 (32个中有2个) 。相比于培养, 16S rRNA测序对葡萄球菌和链球菌的发现率更高。与较轻和未治疗的病变相比, 病变更严重和抗生素治疗的肢体似乎具有较低的α多样性和不同的β多样性。 结论和临床重要性: 研究观察到的马皮肤微生物群变化, 可能与EPD严重程度和抗生素治疗相关。需要进一步的研究来验证致病菌。. Unassigned: A dermatite de quartela em equinos (DQ) é um problema dermatológico comum em cavalos, embora sua etiologia e patogênese sejam mal compreendidas. Objective: Este estudo teve como objetivo investigar os efeitos da gravidade da lesão e do tratamento com antibióticos na flora bacteriana da pele afetada por DQ. Unassigned: Dezesseis cavalos com DQ foram investigados. MÉTODOS: Um estudo observacional foi conduzido atribuindo uma pontuação de gravidade clínica variando de 0 (macroscopicamente não lesional) a 21 (grave), e amostrando os membros mais e menos gravemente afetados de 16 cavalos (32 membros) para cultura bacteriológica e sequenciamento de 16S rRNA. O tratamento com antibióticos no mês anterior à amostragem foi registrado. Os membros foram alocados a um grupo não lesional ou levemente afetado (Grupo A, pontuação 0-3) e um grupo afetado moderado a gravemente (Grupo B, pontuação 4-21). Results: A espécie bacteriana mais comumente cultivada foi Staphylococcus aureus (um dos 15 do Grupo A versus nove dos 17 do Grupo B). Dentro do Grupo B, S. aureus foi encontrado em três dos seis membros tratados com antibióticos e em seis dos 11 membros não tratados. Os estreptococos β-hemolíticos (três de 32) e Trueperella pyogenes (dois de 32) também foram cultivados exclusivamente nos membros não tratados do Grupo B. Os estafilococos e estreptococos foram encontrados mais frequentemente por sequenciamento de rRNA 16S do que em cultura. Membros com maior gravidade de lesão e tratamento com antibióticos pareceram ter uma alfa-diversidade inferior e uma beta-diversidade diferente em comparação com lesões mais leves e não tratadas. CONCLUSÕES E IMPORTÂNCIA CLÍNICA: As diferenças observadas na microbiota da pele de eqüinos provavelmente estão relacionadas à presença e gravidade de DQ e ao tratamento com antibióticos. Mais pesquisas são necessárias para estabelecer a bactéria causadora.
© 2020 The Authors. Veterinary Dermatology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of the European Society of Veterinary Dermatology and the American College of Veterinary Dermatology.
Publication Date: 2021-01-08 PubMed ID: 33417744PubMed Central: PMC8048527DOI: 10.1111/vde.12912Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Observational Study
- Veterinary
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 study investigates how the severity of equine pastern dermatitis (EPD) lesions and the use of topical antimicrobial treatment potentially influence the skin’s bacterial flora. The results indicated a correlation between the severity of EPD, the use of antimicrobial treatment, and the diversity and composition of the bacterial population on the horse’s skin which could help further the understanding of EPD and guide more effective treatments.
Methodology
- The study examined 16 horses suffering from EPD. The horses’ limbs were rated by severity on a scale of 0 to 21, from nonlesional to severe, respectively,
- A total of 32 limbs (both most and least affected) were sampled for bacteriological culture and 16S rRNA sequencing.
- The limbs were divided into two groups, nonlesional or mildly affected group (Group A, scores 0-3) and moderate to severely affected group (Group B, scores 4-21).
- Records were also kept of any topical antimicrobial treatments applied in the month leading up to the sampling.
Results
- The most frequently cultivated bacterial species was Staphylococcus aureus, particularly in the more affected Group B.
- Other bacterial species like β-haemolytic streptococci and Trueperella pyogenes were also found, primarily in the untreated limbs of Group B.
- The use of 16S rRNA sequencing identified more staphylococci and streptococci than simple culture tests.
- More severe lesions treated with antimicrobials showed lower alpha diversity and different beta diversity compared to milder and untreated lesions.
Conclusion
- The research indicates that variations in the microbiota of equine skin could be associated with the presenece and severity of EPD, as well as the use of antimicrobial treatment.
- The team calls for further research, particularly aimed at identifying the causal bacteria for EPD.
Cite This Article
APA
Sangiorgio DB, Hilty M, Kaiser-Thom S, Epper PG, Ramseyer AA, Overesch G, Gerber VM.
(2021).
The influence of clinical severity and topical antimicrobial treatment on bacteriological culture and the microbiota of equine pastern dermatitis.
Vet Dermatol, 32(2), 173-e41.
https://doi.org/10.1111/vde.12912 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Swiss Institute of Equine Medicine (ISME), Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, and Agroscope, Länggassstrasse 124, Bern, 3012, Switzerland.
- Institute for Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, University of Bern, Friedbühlstrasse 51, Bern, 3010, Switzerland.
- Swiss Institute of Equine Medicine (ISME), Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, and Agroscope, Länggassstrasse 124, Bern, 3012, Switzerland.
- Swiss Institute of Equine Medicine (ISME), Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, and Agroscope, Länggassstrasse 124, Bern, 3012, Switzerland.
- Swiss Institute of Equine Medicine (ISME), Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, and Agroscope, Länggassstrasse 124, Bern, 3012, Switzerland.
- Institute for Veterinary Bacteriology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Länggassstrasse 122, Bern, 3012, Switzerland.
- Swiss Institute of Equine Medicine (ISME), Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, and Agroscope, Länggassstrasse 124, Bern, 3012, Switzerland.
MeSH Terms
- Administration, Topical
- Animals
- Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
- Dermatitis / drug therapy
- Dermatitis / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / drug therapy
- Horses
- Microbiota
- RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / genetics
Grant Funding
- Institut Suisse de Médecine Équine
References
This article includes 15 references
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