Abstract
Currently, there are no data in the literature on the topical treatment with Thymus vulgaris essential oil (EO) in bacterial skin infections of dogs. This study evaluates the effectiveness of Thymus vulgaris EO for topical use in dogs with skin 18 half-breed dogs, affected by skin infections housed in a rescue shelter were studied. The bacteria isolated from these dogs were identified by MALDI-TOF-MS. The susceptibility of the isolated microorganisms to Thymus vulgaris L. EO was estimated in vitro by bacteriological test (CLSI 2015), in comparison to some antimicrobials drugs (amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, doxycy-cline, thiamphenicol and marbofloxacin) and to Citrus bergamia EO. The dogs, divided in two groups at random, were treated topically for 7 days with Thymus vulgaris L. EO (Group 1: n. 10 animals) and Citrus bergamia Risso e Poiteau EO (Group 2: n. 8 animals) respectively. The bacteria isolated were: Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (7 samples), Staphylococcus sciuri (4), ESBL Escherichia coli (3) and Proteus mirabilis (4). In all animals treated with Thymus vulgaris EO, the clinical signs decreased rapidly within 5 days from the administration, with complete remission 7 days after the treatment. No bacterial growth was observed from skin swabs after 7 days of treatment. None of the treated animals showed local or general side effects. The use of Thymus vulgaris EO could be a possible alternative or additional treatment to antibiotics in dermatological infections, particularly in cases refractory to conventional therapy.
Highlights
This study evaluates the effectiveness of Thymus vulgaris essential oil (EO) for topical use in dogs with skin 18 half-breed dogs, affected by skin infections housed in a rescue shelter were studied
The cytological investigation of skin samples performed on 18 dogs with skin diseases highlighted the presence of inflammatory cells (Figure 1)
The bacteria isolated by microbiological test from the skin swab samples of 18 dogs affected by bacterial skin disease were: Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (n. 7 samples), Staphylococcus sciuri (n. 4), ESBL Escherichia coli (n. 3) and Proteus mirabilis (n. 4)
Summary
EOs are a complex mixture of organic substances, aromatic oily liquids, biodegradable and with low toxicity, synthesized from plants and characterized by their aroma, generally produced from spices, aromatic herbs, fruits, flowers and plant material (buds, seeds, leaves, twigs, bark, wood, roots) These EOs can be obtained by expression, fermentation and extraction but the method of steam distillation is the most commonly used for their commercial production [6]. The greatest use of EOs in the European Union (EU) is in food (as flavourings), perfumes (fragrances and aftershaves) and pharmaceuticals (for their functional properties)
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