Antimicrobial Photodinamic Therapy Combined with Laser Photobiomodulation in the Treatment of Skin Wounds in a Dog (Canis lupus familiaris)

Background: Laser photobiomodulation has been used in the treatment of various injuries and diseases. This promotes modulation of the inflammatory process, edema reduction and devitalized tissue regeneration. The advantages of Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy are its easy application and the absence of side effects. Other advantages are the cost of the therapy, minimal damage to animal tissue, the broad spectrum of action, and efficiency against strains resistant to antimicrobials. The aim of this study was to report the clinical and their resolution in a female dog with a traumatic, infected wound treated with laser phototherapy as an alternative therapy method. Case: A 3-year-old bitch Border Collie, weighing 18 kg, from the municipality of Ilhdus, Bahia, Brazil, was presented for examination with a history of traumatic laceration of the left thoracic member. On the anamnesis, it was reported that the patient presented with laceration of the left thoracic member. The wound was cleaned and an antibiotic [30 mg/kg of 12/12 h] and anti-inflammatory [0.1 mg/kg every 24 h were prescribed, both for 5 days]. Twenty-four h after the surgical procedure, there was dehiscence of the sutures, with daily topical therapy based on zinc oxide for secondary intention healing. Upon physical examination, the wound was found to be contaminated with swollen and erythematous edges, an ulcerated area with devitalized tissue, serous exudate, and 8.8 cm 2 of wounded area. Given the macroscopic characteristics of the lesion, phototherapy was associated with conventional therapy until complete healing of the wound, with three weekly applications at 48 h intervals. Initially, the wound was cleaned with saline solution at 0.9% and a single treatment with aPDT was scheduled due to the high degree of contamination. The dosimetry parameters of irradiation were calculated according to the wounded area with a diode laser of 0.1 W of power, continuous emission, spot area of 0.028 cm2, and energy of 9 J per application point. A gauze imbibed with 1 mL of methylene blue aqueous solution (300 mu M), which was the photosensitizer was applied to the lesion, with a pre-irradiation time of 5 min, after which it was irradiated with red laser (RL) [lambda = 660 tun] for 90 s per point, using the sweeping technique. The edge of the lesion was irradiated with infrared laser (IRL) [lambda = 808 nm], total energy of 5 J, using the technique of specific points and 1 J of energy/point. After aPDT, low-intensity laser therapy (LILT) sessions were set up with RL and IRL, with energies of 0.5 J/point and 1 J/point, respectively. The wound was cleaned daily, protected with a bandage, and clinically evaluated until complete regression. Discussion: In the present case, methylene blue was used as a photosensitizer, but it is noteworthy that, apparently, each microorganism responds differently to photosensitizers. Thus, the therapy becomes specific for each application, for example: the type of photosensitizer, its concentration, pre-irradiation time, type of light used in photosensitization, wavelength, energy, power, mode delivery of light. Thus, for the best result, the specific protocol in each application should be used Low-intensity laser therapy is an easily executed technique with effective results. The use of PDT associated with photo-biomodulation therapy enabled rapid healing of the cutaneous wound, in addition to an improvement in clinical signs and pain caused by the lesion. The technique proved to be an efficient alternative in the treatment of wounds, whether used in isolation or associated with conventional therapy.