Biofilm and equine limb wounds

Elin Jørgensen*, Thomas Bjarnsholt, Stine Jacobsen

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalReviewResearchpeer-review

13 Citations (Scopus)
16 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

In chronic wounds in humans, biofilm formation and wound chronicity are linked, as biofilms contribute to chronic inflammation and delayed healing. Biofilms are aggregates of bacteria, and living as biofilms is the default mode of bacterial life; within these aggregates, the bacteria are protected from both antimicrobial substances and the immune response of the host. In horses, delayed healing is more commonly seen in limb wounds than body wounds. Chronic inflammation and hypoxia are the main characteristics of delayed wound healing in equine limbs, and biofilms might also contribute to this healing pattern in horses. However, biofilm formation in equine wounds has been studied to a very limited degree. Biofilms have been detected in equine traumatic wounds, and recent experimental models have shown that biofilms protract the healing of equine limb wounds. Detection of biofilms within wounds necessitates advanced techniques that are not available in routine diagnostic yet. However, infections with biofilm should be suspected in equine limb wounds not healing as expected, as they are in human wounds. Treatment should be based on repeated debridement and application of topical antimicrobial therapy.

Original languageEnglish
Article number2825
JournalAnimals
Volume11
Issue number10
ISSN2076-2615
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2021

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

Keywords

  • Bacterial aggregates
  • Biofilm
  • Delayed wound healing
  • Horse
  • Infection
  • Wound
  • Wound chronicity

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