In vitro antimicrobial activity of non-traditional therapies for infectious endometritis in mares.
Authors: Mazzuchini Mariana P, Lisboa Fernando Paixão, de Castro Jessica I, Alvarenga Marco A, Segabinazzi Lorenzo G T M, Canisso Igor F
Journal: Equine veterinary journal
Summary
# Editorial Summary Mare endometritis remains the primary driver of subfertility in equine reproduction, yet antibiotic therapy has frequently been applied without adequate clinical justification, necessitating evaluation of alternative treatment approaches. Researchers employed microdilution methodology to measure the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and percentage inhibition (PI) of five non-traditional therapies against five common endometritis pathogens—*Escherichia coli*, *Pseudomonas aeruginosa*, *Klebsiella pneumoniae*, *Staphylococcus aureus* and *Candida* species—quantifying antimicrobial activity at the 50%, 90% and 100% microorganism inhibition thresholds. Whilst all tested therapies demonstrated superior inhibition compared to positive controls (p < 0.05), only hydrogen peroxide and platelet-rich and -poor plasma achieved complete microbial kill (MIC 100%) across the pathogen panel. These findings suggest hydrogen peroxide and plasma products warrant further investigation as potential adjuncts to reduce systemic antibiotic reliance in endometritis management, though the authors appropriately note that in vivo safety and efficacy remain unestablished and require clinical validation before clinical application can be recommended. Practitioners should interpret these in vitro results as preliminary evidence supporting future clinical trials rather than as immediate alternatives to conventional antimicrobial protocols.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Hydrogen peroxide and platelet-rich/poor plasma show promise as adjunctive or alternative therapies for endometritis to reduce antibiotic dependence, but clinical trials are needed before changing practice protocols
- •While in vitro results are encouraging, practitioners should not adopt these therapies as standalone treatments without in vivo efficacy and safety data
- •This research supports the rationale for developing antibiotic-sparing strategies for endometritis, a condition historically overtreated with antibiotics
Key Findings
- •All tested non-traditional therapies demonstrated inhibition percentages higher than positive controls against five common endometritis-causing pathogens (E. coli, P. aeruginosa, K. pneumoniae, S. aureus, Candida sp.) (p < 0.05)
- •Only hydrogen peroxide and platelet-rich and -poor plasma achieved MIC 100% values in vitro
- •In vivo safety and treatment efficacy were not evaluated, limiting clinical applicability