Effect of gallium maltolate on a model of chronic, infected equine distal limb wounds.

Shauna P Lawless,Canaan M Whitfield-Cargile,Sara D Lawhon,Brad R Weeks,Noah D Cohen,Jing Wu,Ana M Chamoun-Emanuelli,Andrés Rivera-Vélez,Ahmad N Al-Dissi

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0235006

Shauna P Lawless, Canaan M Whitfield-Cargile + Show 7 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0235006

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Abstract

Distal limb wounds are common injuries sustained by horses and their healing is fraught with complications due to equine anatomy, prevalence of infection, and challenges associated with wound management. Gallium is a semi-metallic element that has been shown to possess antimicrobial properties and aid in wound healing in various preclinical models. The effects of Gallium have not been studied in equine wound healing. Therefore, the objective of this study was to compare healing rates between gallium-treated and untreated wounds of equine distal limbs and to demonstrate the antimicrobial effects of gallium on wounds inoculated with S. aureus. Using an established model of equine wound healing we demonstrated beneficial effects of 0.5% topical gallium maltolate on equine wound healing. Specifically we documented reduced healing times, reduced bioburden, and reduced formation of exuberant granulation tissue in wounds treated with gallium maltolate as compared with untreated wounds. Gallium appeared to exert its beneficial effects via its well-described antimicrobial actions as well as by altering the expression of specific genes known to be involved in wound healing of horses and other animals. Specifically, gallium maltolate appeared to increase expression of transforming growth factor-β in both infected and un-infected wounds. Further work is needed to document the effects of gallium on naturally occurring equine wounds and to compare the effects of gallium with other wound treatment options. These data, however, suggest that gallium may be an attractive and novel means of improving equine distal limb wound healing.

Highlights

Equine distal limb wounds are among the most common injuries evaluated by equine practitioners
Wound size was assessed in non-infected wounds in order to determine whether topical GaM exerted a beneficial effect on equine wound healing
Given the frequency with which horses incur wounds, inherent difficulties associated with wound healing on the distal limb of horses, and the increasing identification of multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacteria associated with equine wounds, an inexpensive and effective wound care product that exerts both host effects and antimicrobial effects holds great promise

Summary

Introduction

Equine distal limb wounds are among the most common injuries evaluated by equine practitioners. Healing of these wounds is challenging because of factors such as vascular supply and motion. Healing is further complicated by the prevalence of bacterial infections and difficulty in suturing wounds closed due to loss of soft tissue.

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