USE OF TOPICAL TREATMENTS AND EFFECTS OF WATER TEMPERATURE ON WOUND HEALING IN COMMON CARP (CYPRINUS CARPIO)

Skin lesions are frequently diagnosed in fish medicine. Although systemic fish treatments exist, little is known about the efficacy of topical drugs on fish skin lesions. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of medical-grade honey and silver sulfadiazine on skin lesions using common carp (Cyprinus carpio) as a model. Additionally, the effect of temperature on the wound healing process was evaluated. Punch biopsies were generated on six fish per treatment group under anesthesia. Treatment groups received one of the following topical medications after wounding: Dr. Nordyke's Wound Honey, MicroLyte Ag Vet, or SilvaSorb Gel. Nontreated positive control groups were similarly wounded but did not receive topical treatment. Fish were housed at 108 degrees C to 138 degrees C or 188 degrees C to 218 degrees C for 29 days. Macroscopic evaluation and image collection of wounds were performed on days 0, 4, 8, 12, 21, and 29 after wounding to compare changes in wound areas and inflammation over time. On day 29, tissue samples were collected for histologic analysis. From day 12 after wounding onward, wounds in positive controls maintained at 188 degrees C to 218 degrees C were significantly smaller (days 12, 21, and 29: p < 0.0001) compared with positive controls kept at 108 degrees C to 138 degrees C. There was an overall improvement in macroscopic appearance in honey-treated groups compared with positive controls on day 12 after wounding at 188 degrees C to 218 degrees C (P < 0.001), whereas with the use of Microlyte and Silvasorb, wounds had increased inflammation grades (P < 0.0001 and P, 0.0001, respectively) with enlarged wound areas (P < 0.0001 and P < 0.001, respectively) in comparison with positive controls on day 12 after wounding at 188 degrees C to 218 degrees C. This study suggests that topical use of medicalgrade honey produces positive effects on wound healing in the carp model and higher water temperatures enhance the effects, whereas the use of silver sulfadiazine and lower water temperatures delays or worsens the wound healing process.