From Zebra Bite to the Operating Room: Discussion of the Management of Equine Bite Wounds

Animal bites, particularly those from cats and dogs, are well characterized in emergency and surgical care. Equine animal bites, however, are rare and may be underestimated in severity. The genus Equus includes animals such as horses, donkeys, and zebras, with members sharing similar dental and digestive anatomy as well as comparable musculoskeletal traits. These animals generate significant crushing forces, often causing deep soft-tissue injury, devitalization, and extensive contamination with complex oral flora. For surgeons, such wounds present challenges in assessment, irrigation, debridement, and closure, as well as antimicrobial selection to prevent infection. Despite potential severity, equine bite cases are infrequently reported in medical literature.

We report the case of an adult male volunteer animal handler bitten by a zebra on the left pectoral region while working on a farm in the Southeastern United States. The bite wound exhibits diffuse ecchymosis, central abrasion, and tissue discoloration without epidermal breach. Although superficially minor, this mechanism of bite wound carries a high risk of subcutaneous crush injury and polymicrobial contamination from Equus species.

This case highlights the importance of early surgical evaluation of equine bite wounds, even when superficial, to assess for deep tissue compromise. The oral microbiota of equine species is complex, including aerobes and anaerobes that are capable of causing rapidly progressive soft-tissue infection. Multidisciplinary management may involve prompt irrigation and debridement, broad-spectrum antimicrobial prophylaxis, and careful wound closure decisions to minimize infection risk.

Equine and exotic animal bites represent an underrecognized surgical challenge. Using literature reviews and case reports to inform the discussion, this case underscores the importance of a structured surgical approach to bite wound care, aggressive cleaning and debridement, appropriate antibiotics, and close follow-up to prevent delayed complications.