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

PURPOSE

To investigate the antimicrobial effect of cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) on pathogens associated with canine bacterial keratitis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

, , and strains, 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 Vet plasma 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 for and 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 potent antimicrobial effect on and strains with the latter showing the highest sensitivity.