Use of next generation sequencing to investigate the microbiota of experimentally induced wounds and the effect of bandaging in horses - PubMed (original) (raw)

Use of next generation sequencing to investigate the microbiota of experimentally induced wounds and the effect of bandaging in horses

Louis J Kamus et al. PLoS One. 2018.

Abstract

Objectives: To use next generation sequencing to characterize the microbiota of horses during healing of skin wounds in two anatomical locations (body and limb) known to present different healing patterns; and to investigate the impact of bandaging on bacterial communities of skin wounds located on the limbs of horses.

Methods: Full-thickness skin wounds were created on the distal extremity of both thoracic limbs and on one lateral mid-thoracic wall of four healthy horses. Limb wounds were randomly assigned to bandaging or not. A full-thickness sample was collected with a biopsy punch from intact thorax and limb skin (T0) and from the margin of one wound per site (thorax, unbandaged limb, bandaged limb) 1 week (T1) and 2 weeks (T2) postoperatively, and at full healing (T3). Thoracic skin samples obtained from three healthy horses were included in the analysis as controls.

Results: Anatomic location (thorax vs. limb) significantly influenced bacterial composition of equine skin and healing wounds. Fusobacterium and Actinobacillus were strongly associated with limb wounds during the initial phases of healing. Bandaging had a significant impact on the microbiota during the healing process. The skin microbiota after healing was more similar to samples from controls, demonstrating the resilience and stability of the environment.

Conclusions: Equine skin microbiota is a rich and stable environment that is disturbed by wounding, but returns to its previous stage after full healing. Anatomic location significantly influences bacterial composition of the equine skin during wound healing. Bandaging has a significant impact on the skin microbiota of horses during the healing process. Results of this study provide new insight for a better understanding of the contribution of bacteria to wound healing in horses and may facilitate the future development of therapeutic strategies using commensal bacteria.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1. Healing of experimentally induced wounds of one single horse at the different body sites.

A: 24h, B: 7 days, C: 14 days, D: 21 days, E: cicatrix.

Fig 2. Relative abundance of the main genera bacterial genera (>1%) found in skin biopsies of three healthy horses.

Fig 3. Relative abundances of main bacterial genera found at different body sites (thorax and limbs) during wound healing in horses.

T0: after surgical scrubbing; T1: 1-week post wounding; T2: 2-weeks post wounding; T3: full healing. Bandaged limb wound group excluded.

Fig 4. Relative abundances of main bacterial genera found in the limb of horses 1-week post wounding (T1) under two different managements (bandaged and unbandaged).

Fig 5. PCoA of membership (A) and structure (B) of bacterial communities collected during the healing process from the thoracic and limb wounds of horses.

Only unbandaged limb wound samples were included in this graphical representation. T0: after surgical scrubbing; T1: 1-week post wounding; T2: 2-weeks post wounding; T3: full healing.

Fig 6. PCoA representing bacterial community membership similarity during the healing process in limb wounds according to management (bandaged and unbandaged) and over time.

T1: 1-week post wounding; T2: 2-weeks post wounding; T3: full healing.

Fig 7. Dendrogram representing similarity of bacterial membership of microbiota present in limb of horses under two managements (bandaged and unbandaged) 1 week after wounding (T1).

References

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Use of next generation sequencing to investigate the microbiota of experimentally induced wounds and the effect of bandaging in horses - PubMed (original) (raw)