Medical Grade Honey To Heal

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It contains 3 summaries and citations that have to do with animal health.

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Honey vs Silver in Wound Treatment

Severe burn injuries are a global health concern with high mortality and morbidity rates, partly due to complications such as infection and organ failure. Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections pose particular challenges, often associated with substantial mortality and complicated by antibiotic resistance and biofilm formation. Silver-based wound dressings and creams, including silver sulphadiazine, remain a common treatment to control microbial infections in burn wounds, but their prolonged use can impair wound healing and result in cytotoxicity. Medical-grade honey (MGH) has emerged as a promising alternative due to its broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, lack of resistance development, and fewer adverse effects on healthy tissue. Among MGH products, L-Mesitran Soft, supplemented with vitamins and other components, has demonstrated potent antibacterial effects against P. aeruginosa similar to silver-based therapies and better support for re-epithelialization over extended treatment periods. In contrast, certain Manuka honey-based products, such as Medihoney, have shown less potent antibacterial effects and evidence of cytotoxicity. Studies, including ex vivo human burn wound models and clinical cases, confirm that supplemented MGH effectively eradicates bacterial infections, promotes wound healing, and is safe for use in all patient groups. Therefore, supplemented MGH can be recommended as a first-line therapy to treat P. aeruginosa-infected burn wounds, potentially serving as a superior long-term treatment option compared to silver-based interventions. 

Bouke K.H.L. Boekema, Daniela Chrysostomou, Guido Ciprandi, Anouk Elgersma, Marcel Vlig, Andrea Pokorná, Linsey J.F. Peters, Niels A.J. Cremers, Comparing the antibacterial and healing properties of medical-grade honey and silver-based wound care products in burns, Burns, Volume 50, Issue 3, 2024, Pages 597-610, ISSN 0305-4179, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.burns.2023.10.009

Bottom line — Medical grade honey may be better than silver products.

Demodex and Simparica Trio

Generalised demodicosis is a significant dermatological condition in dogs caused by the overgrowth of Demodex canis mites, which live in hair follicles and are transmitted from mother to pups shortly after birth. The disease is associated with genetic or immunological issues in juveniles and immunosuppressive conditions or medications in adults. Symptoms include alopecia, crusts, pustules, and secondary bacterial infections, which can lead to severe systemic illness. 

Diagnosis involves identifying mites through deep skin scrapings and monitoring treatment by counting mites until two consecutive samples are negative. Effective miticidal treatment is recommended for at least two months after achieving parasitological cure. Previously available miticidal treatments had varying efficacy and safety, but the introduction of isoxazoline-based ectoparasiticides, including sarolaner, has significantly improved management with less burden on owners. 

This study evaluated the efficacy of sarolaner at a minimal dose of 1.2 mg/kg in combination with moxidectin and pyrantel (SMP, Simparica Trio) compared to afoxolaner and milbemycin oxime (AM, Nexgard Spectra). Laboratory and field studies demonstrated that SMP, administered monthly, was well-tolerated and effective, with 98.6% of dogs achieving mite-free status after two doses. Results were consistent across different conditions and doses, indicating efficacy for both juvenile and adult demodicosis. 

SMP’s combination of active ingredients extends its utility to treating concurrent flea/tick infestations, preventing heartworm and lungworm infections, and addressing gastrointestinal nematodes. Its palatability and voluntary acceptance by dogs further ease its use, reducing the burden of care for owners and veterinarians. 

Becskei C, Liebenberg J, Fernandes T, Borowski S, D’Hanis L, Mahabir SP. Efficacy of a chewable tablet containing sarolaner, moxidectin and pyrantel for the treatment of generalised demodicosis in dogs. Vet Dermatol. 2025; 36: 34–42. https://doi.org/10.1111/vde.13305

Bottom line — Very Effective.

Topical Treatment for Uveitis in Horses

This study reviews equine recurrent uveitis (ERU), the primary cause of blindness in horses and a spontaneous model for human recurrent uveitis, and investigates a novel immunomodulatory approach using a SOCS1‐KIR mimetic peptide. ERU, characterized by recurrent bouts of intraocular inflammation that progressively damage the eye, mirrors the immunopathology seen in human recurrent uveitis, making the equine model particularly valuable for translational research. The SOCS1‐KIR peptide, designed to mimic a critical inhibitory region of the SOCS1 protein that regulates the JAK/STAT pathway, was shown to reduce immune activation both in vitro and in vivo. Specifically, when applied topically, the peptide significantly diminished the production of inflammatory cytokines such as TNFα and IL‐10 in stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells from both healthy and ERU‐affected horses, and lowered cytokine levels in the aqueous humor. Although certain cytokines like IL‐8 increased following treatment, these changes likely reflect complex regulatory feedback within the immune response. Importantly, the treatment was well tolerated even at higher doses and longer durations, reinforcing its potential as a safe therapeutic option. Overall, the findings support further exploration of SOCS1‐KIR as a promising strategy to mitigate the chronic, sight‐threatening inflammation seen in ERU, with implications for treating human uveitis as well. 

Front. Immunol. , 09 January 2025 Sec. Autoimmune and Autoinflammatory Disorders : Autoimmune Disorders Volume 15 - 2024 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2024.1513157

Bottom line — Early results support this as a beneficial treatment

Just putting things in perspective …