Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy can be an effective adjuvant for surgical wound healing in cattle

• Published in: Photodiagnosis and photodynamic therapy Vol. 33; p. 102168
• Main Authors: Valandro, Patrícia, Massuda, Mayara B., Rusch, Elidiane, Birgel, Daniela B., Pereira, Philipe P.L., Sellera, Fábio P., Ribeiro, Martha S., Pogliani, Fabio C., Birgel Junior, Eduardo H.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01-03-2021
• Subjects: Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Anti-Infective Agents; Cattle; Male; Non-antibiotic approach; Photochemotherapy - methods; Photoinactivation; Photosensitizing Agents - therapeutic use; Pilot Projects; Rumenostomy; Surgical Wound - drug therapy; Veterinary medicine; Wound healing; Rumenostomy; Photoinactivation; Wound healing; Non-antibiotic approach; Veterinary medicine
• ISSN: 1572-1000; 1873-1597
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pdpdt.2020.102168

•We investigated the use of APDT combined with chlorhexidine and zinc oxide ointment for surgical wound healing in cattle.•APDT-treated wounds presented a better post-surgical profile.•Animals treated with APDT were faster discharged from the cattle care facility.•APDT proved to be a supportive approach for surgical wound healing in cattle.
Rumenostomy is a useful procedure commonly performed in cattle for medical treatment of domestic ruminants with forestomach diseases. Methylene blue (MB)-mediated antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (APDT) has been broadly investigated to treat infected wounds.
The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of MB-mediated APDT (MB-APDT) combined with chlorhexidine and zinc oxide ointment on wound healing process after rumenostomy.
Fourteen Nelore bulls were subjected to rumenostomy procedure. Animals were randomly divided into MB-APDT (MB associated with a red diode laser performed immediately after surgery and repeated on days 3, 5, 7 and 10) and control groups. Daily care included topical cleaning with chlorhexidine 2% followed by topical zinc oxide ointment. Animals were followed-up until the 28th day.
Wounds presented a better post-surgical profile in MB-APDT group when it was compared with the control group. In MB-APDT group, it was also possible to observe less pain on palpation of wounds borders, less edema and inflammatory exudate. Additionally, animals from MB-APDT group were faster discharged from the cattle care facility.
Our results support the use of MB-APDT for the post-surgical management of rumenostomy. This pilot study ratifies the use of APDT in cattle and also suggests that it could be performed for other surgical procedures as a complementary approach or an alternative for topical administration of antibiotics.