Diarrhea has become an economically important disease in pigs due to intensive management system which has been used. Escherichia coli is the most important etiological agent of neonatal and post weaning diarrhea in swine colibacillosis and the greater impact of the disease in pigs. The demand of consumers seeking meat without chemical residues and the prohibition of the use of antibiotics and chemotherapeutics in swine production has led to seek an alternative medicine for preventive and therapeutic treatments in swine breeding. This study was carried out in a commercial farm in São Paulo state. Stool samples were collected from five piglets presenting diarrhea and examined for the presence of Escherichia coli. Concomitantly, a detailed interview was done with the owner, about all clinical information useful to choose the best homeopathic medicine, using repertory method. Subsequently, four groups were formed consisting of 11-12 piglets each: a control group (antimicrobial used in the farm routine for treatment of diarrhea), a group treated with the chosen homeopathic medicine - China officinalis 30 CH - a group treated with E. coli biotherapic 30 CH (medicine made from E. coli strains collected and isolated from the same farm) and a group treated with both homeopathic and biotherapic E. coli medicines. There was no statistical difference in the number of animals presenting diarrhea among groups, but China treated pigs showed greater weight gain compared to the other three groups (Fisher test, p = 0.0001), despite the incidence of diarrhea. In conclusion, this preliminary study suggests that the use of repertory chosen homeopathic medicines could improve productivity in swine farms even though clinical manifestations of diarrhea occur.
Background: It has been speculated that the homeopathic treatment of sperm cells in order to improve semen quality could be promising. However, few data is available and its use in spermatozoa requires investigation. It is well established that mitochondrial membrane potential is an important viability parameter of spermatozoa and it is intimately related to reproductive efficiency. In this manner, new technologies in order to improve the activity of sperm cells and, finally, the fecundity of swine herds are of extremely importance. Due to the lack of knowledge of homeopathic treatment effect on spermatozoa, the aim of the present study was to verify the effect of three different homeopathic treatments on viability of boar sperm cells. Methods: semen samples were obtained from two sexually mature boars (18 mo of age). The boars were cross bred, with similar genetics of Pietrain versus Duroc, BP 450 progeny from a supplier company of similar reproductive performance animals. The animals were maintained in individual stalls, study conducted in Sao Paulo - Brazil. Three homeopathic treatments: Pulsatilla 6CH, Avena 6 CH or both, compared to placebo treatment (sucrose), the homeopathic medicaments or the control were administrated as globules manipulated according Brazilian Homeopathic Pharmacology. Each globule weighted 30 mg and contained sucrose as vehicle. One dose of two globules was added per 100 mL of diluted boar semen, which were chilled for 24 or 48 hours. All samples were labeled in codes in order to allow all laboratory analysis and evaluations being performed as a blind test. Data were tested for normality of residues and homogeneity of variances using the Guided Data Analysis software. Variables and interactions were analyzed by the PROC MIXED of the SAS package (SAS Institute Ins. Cary, NC). Adjusted least squares means (LSMEANS) of treatments were compared using the Tukey Test. Results: The different treatments contributed to maintain acrossome integrity for prolonged periods of cooling over 48 hours. The use of Pulsatilla was effective in maintaining high sperm mitochondria activity up to 24 hours from harvesting. Conclusion: Homeopathic medications can be used in artificial insemination in order to improve the quality of cooled and stored pig semen [1]. Keywords: homeopathy, swine semen, sperm viability. Reference [1] Soto, F. R. M.; Vuaden, E. R.; Coelho, C. P.; Bonamin, L. V.; Azevedo, S. S. A.; Benites, N. R.; Barros, F. R. O.; Goissis, M. D.; Assumpção, M. E. O. D.; Visintin, J. A.; Marques, M. G. Effects of the utilization of homeopathic elements in commercial diluent on swine sperm viability. In Vitro Cell.Dev.Biol.â€â€ÂAnimal. 47:205–209, 2011.
Background: Escherichia coli is the most important etiological agent in neonatal diarrhea in swine, and Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) is the most commonly isolated. Regarding to virulence factors, five main types of fimbriae were already described in swine samples: F4 (K88), F5 (K99), F6 (987P), F18 and F41. Thermolabile (LT) and thermostable enterotoxins (ST), as well as shiga-like toxin or verotoxin (Stx2) are also found in isolates of swine origin, related to diarrhoea process. Methods: This long term study has been developed in a swine farm (Mato Grosso, Brazil), in which 93 piglets were studied and 184 fecal samples were evaluated in two steps, with the aim to search the presence of Escherichia coli and to prepare a specific biotherapic medicine. Each step had one year of interval each other. Concurrently, for each step, a detailed anamnesis was made for choosing the ideal homeopathic medication for each step (Phosphorus 30 CH and Pulsatilla 30 CH, respectively). In each step, four groups consisting of 11-12 piglets and the respective primiparous mother pig were formed, and the treatments happened simultaneously: control group (antimicrobial treatment, the same used in the swine farm), homeopathic medication, E. coli biotherapic and homeopathic medication associated to biotherapic. The medications were made according to the Brazilian Homeopathic Pharmacopeia and the treatment lasted 12 days. After 24 days, in the weaning, the weight gain of each bath was also evaluated. Considering both steps, the research of virulence factors and enterotoxins was carried out in 99 Escherichia coli colonies through Polymerase Chain Reaction - PCR. Results: In both steps, the homeopathy treated groups passed from 75.0% of diarrhea incidence to 8.3% at the end of the treatment (p
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