Process evaluation of equine wound healing with the use of moxibustion

Author(s)

Bianca Moutinho Grizendi

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: Pirassununga.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Zootecnica e Engenharia de Alimentos (FZE/BT)
• Defense date: 2020-12-11

Examining board members

Renata Gebara Sampaio Dória; Carla Bargi Belli; Pierre Barnabé Escodro

• Advisor: Renata Gebara Sampaio Dória

Abstract

Wound healing in horses depends on the effective arrangement of the various events involved and this is usually hermetic, resulting in chronicity and exuberant granulation tissue formation. In addition, when the wounds are located in the limbs, some elements negatively affect healing, such as constant mobilization and contamination predisposition. In this sense, there is a constant search for alternative therapeutic resources, such as the use of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) methods. Moxibustion is a TCM technique for treating diseases by burning Artemisia. The main objective of this study is the quality evaluation of skin wound healing in horses with the use of moxibustion. Eight horses were used for induction and treatment of surgical wounds in the metacarpophalangeal regions, which were divided into two experimental groups, moxibustion (MOXA) and control (CONT). The wounds from the MOXA group were treated with water and neutral soap, associating indirect technique moxibustion sessions with moxa stick on alternate days, while the wounds of the CONT group received treatment only with water and neutral soap, also on alternate days. Macroscopic evaluations were performed every seven days, until 60 days after wound induction, and the time required for complete healing was measured. In addition, wounds samples were collected for histologic evaluations and expressions of TGF-β1 and VEGFA growth factors by quantification of gene transcripts on days 0, 3, 7, 15, 30 and 60 after wound induction. The treatment with moxibustion did not interfere in the time of complete healing of skin wounds in horses and in the expression of TGF- and VEGFA in relation to the group treated with water and soap, although macroscopic and histological observations suggested positive visual alteration for the wounds treated with moxibustion. Therefore, indirect moxibustion with moxa stick presents itself as a complementary treatment for horse wounds, since it is easy to apply, controls the healing process, has an affordable price and good acceptability. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 18/05969-3 - Evaluation of the healing process of equine wounds with the use of moxibustion
• Grantee: Bianca Moutinho Grizendi
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master