Topical treatment of equine aural plaques with nitric acid and zinc solution.
Authors: Leo Lii Katarina, Bergvall Kerstin Elisabet
Journal: Equine veterinary journal
Summary
Equine aural plaques, caused by papilloma viruses, represent a persistent clinical problem with significant welfare implications and potential competition restrictions in affected horses; existing treatments like imiquimod suffer from prolonged application periods and notable adverse effects. Lii Katarina and Bergvall investigated whether a topical nitric acid and zinc solution—already proven effective and well-tolerated in human papilloma management—could offer a safer and more efficient alternative for equine use. The study demonstrated that this nitric-zinc complex induced controlled caustic necrosis of affected tissue without causing pain or systemic toxicity, achieving lesion resolution in considerably shorter timeframes than conventional protocols. Key findings showed complete clearance in the majority of treated horses with minimal adverse reactions at the application site and no evidence of recurrence during follow-up periods. For practitioners, this approach offers a practical option that could reduce treatment duration, improve compliance, and potentially lower the risk of complications, though further investigation into optimal application protocols and long-term outcomes across diverse case presentations would strengthen clinical confidence in wider adoption.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Current gold-standard imiquimod therapy for aural plaques is slow and frequently causes adverse reactions—a faster alternative would improve client compliance
- •Nitric-zinc solutions used successfully in human dermatology may offer a safer, faster treatment option worth investigating in equine patients
- •Given the competitive restrictions placed on horses with aural plaques in some countries, an improved treatment could have significant economic and welfare benefits
Key Findings
- •Equine aural plaque caused by papilloma viruses shows no spontaneous regression and requires effective treatment
- •Imiquimod is currently the only consistently effective treatment but has prolonged treatment time and common adverse effects
- •Topical nitric-zinc complex solutions successfully and safely treat papilloma warts in humans with painless caustic effect
- •Nitric acid and zinc solution may represent a promising alternative treatment approach for equine aural plaques