Evaluation of the hematological response to various therapeutic approaches in the management of open wounds: An experimental study in rodents

Hematological analyses are important in veterinary and humanmedicine for early detection of homeostatic changes andassessment of systemic responses to injury, stress, and therapy.In this study, the hematological response of Wistar rats withsurgically induced wounds was analyzed following treatmentwith natural and synthetic therapeutic agents.Twenty-four healthy adult Wistar rats were randomized into sixgroups (n = 4): surgical control (C), gentamicin ointment (AB),Manuka honey MGO 250+ (MH1), Manuka honey MGO 550+(MH2), chlorine dioxide (CL), and absolute control withoutincision and therapy (CC). After a standardized abdominalincision (except CC), treatments were applied twice daily for 7days. On day 7, hematological parameters and peripheral bloodsmears were analyzed.Significant intergroup differences were found in WBC (p =0.030), lymphocytes (p = 0.020), RBC (p = 0.002), MCV andMCH (p < 0.001), RDW-CV and RDW-SD (p < 0.001). Elevatedestimated marginal means were most consistent in MH1, MH2,and CC, particularly for WBC, lymphocytes, RBC, and red cellindices, suggesting a more pronounced hematological response.Poikilocytosis was present in all groups, with annulocytes mostprevalent (up to 6.01% in MH1), followed by dacryocytes andovalocytes. The leukogram showed lymphocyte dominance inall groups, with the highest percentage in MH1 (65.75%), andthe highest neutrophil percentage in AB (47.75%).This study provides insight into potential differences inthe hematological response to natural and synthetic woundtreatments in an animal model, and serves as a basis for furtherresearch into the biological safety and efficacy of the therapiesused.