DERMAGUARD MEDICATED WASH

 

An effective remedy for insect bites, minor burns, including, minor skin irritations, heat rash, cuts and abrasions, and numerous other minor conditions. Melaleuca Oil as the active makes it ideal as a routine wash or shampoo more effective than standard Tea Tree Oil.

In laboratory tests at the concentration presented, this blend of essential oils totally inhibits the growth of Dermatophilus congolensis the fungus-like bacterium responsible for Greasy Heel and Staphylococcus and Pseudomonas bacteria which may be associated with secondary infection of the pastern and heel.

The new blend of essential oils is the product of over 15 years research by Dr Lyall Williams at the Macquarie University School of Chemistry. The inherent anti-microbial activity of standard tea tree oil has been shown to increase by over 30 percent with the addition of only two parts per hundred of the new Essential Oil Blend. This was measured by the increase in the radius of the zone of inhibition of growth of Dermatophilus inoculum.

Shampoo and "show coat" conditioner for animals. Will minimise tick and flea problems as well as being useful for treatment of eczema, canker, mange, and other skin conditions

Ringworm in Horses:

Trichophyton equinum and T. mentagrophytes are the primary causes of ringworm in horses, although M.gypseum, M.canis and T.verrucosum are also seen in some cases.

Transmission in horses is by direct contact with infected animals or infected gear, rugs and saddlery. Most lesions are seen in the saddle and girth regions, producing “girth itch”.

Diagnosis is often confirmed by culture, as there are several diseases in horses which can produce similar skin lesions, including bacterial folliculitis and dermatophilosus (another fungus-like organism which produces rain scald and greasy heel). – See later in this article

Ringworm treatment in horses is usually topical because systemic treatment is expensive and often of unproven efficacy. Shampoos and rinses are often used to wash the whole body, and antifungal creams and ointments can be of value on discrete lesions. Grooming equipment, rugs and saddlery should be disinfected and placed in direct sunlight regularly, and affected horses should be isolated until treatment if effective.

Australian research by Pascoe (1976) surveyed 560 horses in training and 2535 horses in breeding farms in Queensland, to find that 32% of horses in training and 1.1% of breeding horses showed clinical ringworm infections. The majority of lesions were in the girth region, and Trichophyton equinum var autotrophicum, M.canis and M.equinum were restricted to racing horses, while M.gypseum occurred in racing, riding and breeding horses.

The same researcher reported in 1973 that Trichophyton equinum var autotrophicum has been consistently isolated from lesions of girth itch as well as girth rugs and brushes from affected horses, and that this fungus was the most common cause of skin lesions in thoroughbred horses in Queensland in 1979.

While the fungus could survive on saddle girths for 12 months, mild abrasions from the saddle during work favoured the development of lesions and prolonged the recovery period.

Ringworm is most common in horses in Australia in periods of high relative humidity between November and April (summer). Clinical signs generally appear between 5-10 days following contact, and the hair within lesions becomes erect, and lesions become visible from a distance. The hair is easily plucked from the horse, occasionally in tufts where the hair is matted at the base by exudate to leave a grey, moist, glistening lesion. Single lesions may spread to about 35mm diameter. Hair regrowth generally starts about 30 days after infection. Itching is uncommon in horses.

It is reported by Al-Ani (2002) that Trichophyton and Microsporum species are the main causes of ringworm in Saudi Arabia and Sudan. Of 316 horses examined in Jordan, 57 (18%) had ringworm infection. Microsporum equinum was the most common isolate, representing 40% of total identified fungi. Horses younger than 2 years were found to be most susceptible to ringworm infection in the region.