Veterinary Research Forum

Therapeutic effects of ethanol extract of propolis on experimental cutaneous candidiasis in horse

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Sayyed Zakaria Mahmoodi 1
Vahid Najarnezhad 2
Ghader Jalilzadeh-Amin 2
Abdolghaffar Ownagh 3
Navideh Mirzakhani 4

1 DVM Graduate, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran

2 Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran

3 Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Amol University of Special Modern, Amol, Iran

4 PhD Graduated from Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran

10.30466/vrf.2025.2067879.4863
Abstract
Candida albicans is a commensal opportunistic yeast colonizing the skin and mucosal surfaces of humans and animals, which, under specific predisposing conditions, can proliferate excessively and lead to clinical manifestations of candidiasis. The widespread prophylactic and therapeutic use of antifungal agents has led to the emergence of drug-resistant strains, necessitating the exploration of novel therapeutic alternatives. Considering the clinical and conformational significance of equine skin health, the present study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of ethanol extract of propolis in an experimental model of cutaneous candidiasis in horses. In 2022, two clinically healthy, six-year-old female horses (approximately 400 kg) were selected for the study. Immunosuppression was induced using dexamethasone and four intradermal inoculation sites were created on the shaved thoracic and flank regions of both lateral aspects using C. albicans (PTCC: 5027) suspension (5 × 10⁶ CFU mL-1). The experimental sites on the right thorax were treated with ethanol extract of propolis while those on the left thorax received topical nystatin. Lesions on the right flank were treated with glycerin as a vehicle control, and lesions on the left flank were left untreated. Cutaneous candidiasis was successfully induced within five days post-inoculation. Clinical resolution was observed following five days of treatment with ethanol extract of propolis, whereas, nystatin required eight days to achieve complete lesion resolution. The findings of this study suggested that topical ethanol extract of propolis demonstrated superior efficacy in accelerating the resolution of C. albicans-induced cutaneous lesions in horses compared to nystatin.

Keywords

Candida albicans
Cutaneous candidiasis
Equine
Ethanol extract
Propolis
Subjects
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Veterinary Research Forum
Volume 17, Issue 7
July 2026
Pages 511-518

  • Receive Date 04 August 2025
  • Revise Date 08 September 2025
  • Accept Date 21 October 2025

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