Evaluation of Propolis Efficacy in Wound Healing After Minimally Invasive Sex Determination in Sturgeon

The present study investigates the efficacy of propolis as a natural therapeutic agent in the wound healing process following minimally invasive surgical sex determination in sterlet sturgeon (Acipenser ruthenus) specimens. The experiment was conducted under controlled conditions using 40 specimens randomly allocated into four experimental groups (n = 10 per group): one control group and three groups treated topically with different propolis formulations (propolis tincture, Larix propolis cream, and CETA propolis cream). The progression of the healing process was evaluated using a clinical erythema scoring system at successive time points over a one-month period. The results indicated a reduction in erythema in the treated groups compared to the control group, suggesting potential anti-inflammatory and wound-healing-related effects of propolis. Among the tested treatments, the CETA propolis cream showed the most favorable descriptive healing trend. The findings suggest that propolis may represent a promising natural approach for the management of postoperative lesions in sturgeons, although further studies are needed to confirm these results and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. However, further histological, microbiological, and compositional analyses are required to confirm these preliminary observations and clarify the underlying mechanisms.