Efficacy of 0.5% Tretinoin in the Treatment of Equine Aural Plaques.

Tretinoin 0.5% is effective for equine aural plaques with fewer adverse effects than imiquimod.

This controlled clinical trial evaluated the efficacy and safety of 0.5% topical tretinoin for treating equine aural plaques, a benign auricular papillomatosis caused by equine papillomavirus. The study included 10 horses (7 months to 15 years old) with 17 affected ears total. Three horses participated in a pilot phase with unilateral treatment for intra-animal comparison, while seven received bilateral treatment. Lesions were classified by percentage of inner auricular surface involvement. Tretinoin was applied topically once daily until lesion stabilization or resolution. Results showed 65% of ears achieved >50% improvement, with average maximal resolution within 52.8 days (range 6-74 days). Notably, no horses exhibited severe sensitivity during treatment, eliminating the need for sedation before application—a significant advantage over 5% imiquimod cream, which commonly causes marked local reactions requiring sedation. The treatment demonstrated excellent safety with no severe adverse effects reported. While this study presents promising preliminary evidence, the authors acknowledge the small sample size and recommend larger-scale studies with long-term follow-up to optimize treatment protocols and establish definitive dosing schedules for clinical practice.

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