Treatment of ringworm in horses with natamycin.

This study evaluated the use of the antibiotic natamycin to eliminate ringworm in horses, with an overall success rate of 97 percent and a period of up to six months with no re-infection evident.

Overview of Research

In this study, a suspension of the antibiotic natamycin was used to treat 83 horses of various breeds and ages that were exhibiting clinical symptoms of ringworm. The horses were treated by sponging on the natamycin solution. The researchers then tracked the success of the treatment over a period of up to 6 months, noting the absence of re-infection and any side effects.

Some Identified Causes

• When investigating the root cause of the ringworm infections in the horses, the researchers identified several different fungal pathogens. Among these, Trichophyton equinum was found to be the most common causative agent.

Results of the Treatment

• The treatment with natamycin was found to effectively eliminate the ringworm infection within a 4-week period.
• Post-treatment observations showed that the treated horses did not exhibit any signs of re-infection for up to six months after the completion of treatment.
• The overall success rate of the treatment, termed mycological clearance, was tallied at 97 percent.

Additional Advantages

• Besides its efficacy in treating ringworm, the natamycin suspension presented other advantageous properties. Notably, it was found to be non-irritating to the horses, suggesting its safety for application on these animals.
• The preparation was also odourless, which could make it more acceptable to both the animals and their caregivers.
• Furthermore, this study also suggested that the natamycin suspension could be useful in treating the horses’ surroundings, presumably to prevent recurrence of the infection.

Overall, the research indicated the effective use of natamycin in treating ringworm in horses and offered a high-rate solution to effectively manage this common equine condition.