Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41229077›Full record

ArticleVeterinary ophthalmology2026

In Vitro Activity of Manuka Honey, Either Alone or in Combination With Topical Antibiotics, Against Bacteria Commonly Found in Equine Ulcerative Keratitis.

M Barvelink, B Brok, S C Djajadiningrat-Laanen, J C M Vernooij, E M Broens, I J M Slenter

Abstract read
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Article in Veterinary ophthalmology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

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0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

M BarvelinkDepartment of Clinical Sciences, Equine Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0008-3948-6390
B BrokDepartment of Clinical Sciences, Equine Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
S C Djajadiningrat-LaanenDepartment of Clinical Sciences, Surgery of Companion Animals, Veterinary Ophthalmology Section, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
J C M VernooijDepartment of Population Health Sciences, Farm Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
E M BroensDepartment of Biomolecular Health Sciences, Veterinary Microbiological Diagnostic Centre, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
I J M SlenterDepartment of Clinical Sciences, Surgery of Companion Animals, Veterinary Ophthalmology Section, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveTo assess the antibacterial activity of manuka honey against bacterial isolates commonly associated with infected corneal ulcerations in horses, and to investigate possible combined effects of manuka honey and commonly prescribed topical antibiotics. PROCEDURES: Four Staphylococcus aureus, including three methicillin-resistant (MRSA), two methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci (S. sciuri and S. haemolyticus), and two Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus isolates from horses with stromal ulcerative keratitis were selected. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) of manuka honey were determined with microdilution assays and spectrophotometric analyses. Potential combined antibacterial effects were explored by assessing bacterial growth inhibition using disk diffusion and E-tests, both with and without a sub-inhibitory concentration of manuka honey. Tested antibiotics included chloramphenicol, tetracycline, gentamicin, ofloxacin, tobramycin, cloxacillin, and fusidic acid.

resultsThe spectrophotometric MIC of manuka honey was 12% (w/v) for all tested isolates. MBC values ranged between 20% (w/v) and 28% (w/v) for all isolates, except S. sciuri. Combining 5% (w/v) manuka honey with tetracycline, chloramphenicol, or fusidic acid enhanced the antibacterial effect against Staphylococcus spp. (including methicillin-resistant isolates). The antibacterial effect of ofloxacin against S. aureus and streptococci and of cloxacillin against S. aureus appeared slightly reduced when combined with 5% manuka honey. No consistent difference was observed when manuka honey was combined with gentamicin or tobramycin.

conclusionsManuka honey has in vitro inhibitory and bactericidal activity against equine corneal surface pathogens including multi-resistant isolates. Further studies are required to assess potential synergistic and antagonistic effects of manuka honey in combination with antibiotics.

Indexed as

Anti-Bacterial AgentsCorneal UlcerHoneyHorse DiseasesAnimalsHorsesMicrobial Sensitivity TestsStaphylococcal InfectionsStaphylococcusAnti-Bacterial Agentsantibiotic resistancecorneaeyehorsemethicillin‐resistantmultidrug resistance

Identifiers

PMID41229077
PMCPMC12963514

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.