Argon cold atmospheric plasma eradicates pathogensthat are commonly associated with canine bacterial keratitis.

Abstract

PURPOSE: To investigate the antimicrobial effect of cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) on pathogens associated with canine bacterial keratitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: ,, andstrains, which were obtained from dogs with infectious keratitis, were subjected to testing. For each species, four isolates and a reference strain were cultivated on Columbia sheep blood agar and treated with the kiNPen Vetplasma pen from Neoplas GmbH, Greifswald, Germany. Various continuous treatment durations (0.5, 2, and 5 min) were applied, along with a 0.5-min treatment repeated four times at short intervals. These treatments were conducted at distances of 3 and 18 mm between the agar surface and the pen. RESULTS: CAP treatment reduced bacterial growth in all three species. The most effective treatment duration was 5 min at 3 mm distance, resulting in inhibition zones ranging from 19 to 22 mm for, 26-45 mm forand an overall reduction of bacterial growth for. Inhibition zones were smaller with decreasing treatment duration and larger distance. Treatment times of 30 s repeated four times and 2 min showed comparable results. Treatment with argon alone did not lead to visible reduction of bacterial growth. CONCLUSION: Argon cold atmospheric plasma demonstrated a potentantimicrobial effect onandstrains with the latter showing the highest sensitivity.