Evaluation of the bacterial ocular surface microbiome in clinically normal horses before and after treatment with topical neomycin-polymyxin-bacitracin.

ABSTRACT: Next generation sequencing (NGS) studies have demonstrated a rich and diverse ocular surface-associated microbiota in people that was previously undetected by traditional culture-based methods. The ocular surface microbiome of horses has yet to be investigated using NGS techniques. This study aimed to determine the bacterial composition of the ocular surface microbiome in healthy horses, and to identify whether there are microbial community changes over time and following topical antibiotic use. One eye of 12 horses was treated 3 times daily for 1 week with neomycin-polymyxin-bacitracin ophthalmic ointment. Contralateral eyes served as untreated controls. The inferior conjunctival fornix of both eyes was sampled at baseline prior to initiating treatment (day 0), after 1 week of treatment (

SUBMITTER: Scott EM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6447178 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature