Treponemes-infected canker in a Japanese racehorse: efficacy of maggot debridement therapy.
Abstract: A 3-year-old thoroughbred colt presented with canker on its left hind foot. Subsequent development of cottage cheese-like horns and dermatitis disturbed healing, despite the use of miscellaneous orthodox treatment approaches to the lesions. Histological examination revealed exudative and suppurative dermatitis, and proliferatively suppurative epidermitis infected with helically coiled treponemes. Total debridement under general anesthesia led to a temporary improvement, but the ground surface regenerated abnormal epidermis similar to that observed initially after surgery. Maggot debridement therapy (MDT) was attempted, which removed all the abnormal tissue. After MDT, general farriery trimming helped to correct the distorted ground surface, and the horse returned to constant training and eventually raced. This case shows that MDT was successfully used for treatment of an intractable and treponemes-infected canker.
Publication Date: 2012-10-18 PubMed ID: 24833994PubMed Central: PMC4013979DOI: 10.1294/jes.23.41Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The research article examines a case study where a racehorse was successfully treated for a stubborn type of hoof infection, or canker, using maggot debridement therapy (MDT). This unconventional method eliminated the abnormal tissue and allowed the horse to return to training and racing.
Background of the Study
- The research centers on a case study of a 3-year-old thoroughbred colt that was suffering from a canker on its left hind foot. The condition led to the development of dermatitis and “cottage cheese-like horns”, making healing difficult despite various conventional treatments.
- A histological examination showed that the horse had exudative and suppurative dermatitis and epidermitis, infected with helically coiled treponemes. This bacterium generally causes infectious diseases in animals and can cause complications in wound healing.
Interventions and Observations
- The horse underwent a total debridement procedure under general anesthesia, which initially led to some temporary improvement. However, the ground surface of the foot regenerated abnormal epidermis similar to the initial situation post-surgery.
- As further conventional treatment options remained unsuccessful, the researchers decided to trial Maggot Debridement Therapy (MDT). This involves the controlled use of fly larvae (maggots) to remove dead tissue, kill bacteria, and speed up healing time in open wounds, an approach sometimes used in human medicine.
- The MDT eliminated all the abnormal tissue from the hoof. After MDT, general farriery trimming was carried out to adjust the foot’s distorted ground surface.
Outcome and Conclusion
- Following Maggot Debridement Therapy and general farriery trimming, the horse was able to return to continuous training and eventually raced as normal—demonstrating that the treatment was successful.
- The researchers concluded that MDT was a successful therapy method for treating a stubborn and treponemes-infected canker in this particular case, suggesting that it may be a viable treatment approach in similar, resistant cases.
Cite This Article
APA
Kuwano A, Niwa H, Higuchi T, Mitsui H, Agne RA.
(2012).
Treponemes-infected canker in a Japanese racehorse: efficacy of maggot debridement therapy.
J Equine Sci, 23(3), 41-46.
https://doi.org/10.1294/jes.23.41 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Equine Research Institute, Japan Racing Association, 321-4 Tokami-cho, Utsunomiya-shi, Tochigi 320-0856, Japan.
- Equine Research Institute, Epizootic Research Center, Japan Racing Association, 1400-4 Shiba, Shimotsuke‑shi, Tochigi 329-0412, Japan.
- Hidaka Agriculture Mutual Aid Association, 200 Higashihourai, Mitsuishi, Shinhidaka-cho, Hidaka-gun, Hokkaido 059-3105, Japan.
- Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, Tsukazaki Hospital, 68-1, Waku, Aboshi-ku, Himeji, Hyogo 671-1227, Japan.
- Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital, 150 Georgetown Road & Lexington, Kentucky 40511, U.S.A.
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This article includes 20 references
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Citations
This article has been cited 1 times.- Marčeková P, Mad'ar M, Styková E, Kačírová J, Sondorová M, Mudroň P, Žert Z. The Presence of Treponema spp. in Equine Hoof Canker Biopsies and Skin Samples from Bovine Digital Dermatitis Lesions. Microorganisms 2021 Oct 20;9(11).
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