Homeopathy for marine fish aquaculture: Increased growth and survival of juvenile spotted rose snapper Lutjanus guttatus

Abstract

Homeopathy medicines have been applied with positive results in agriculture, livestock and freshwater aquaculture. Commercial formulations such as Homeopatila? have been successfully evaluated in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and Pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus) with measurable effects on growth, survival, and immune response during culture, management and transport. The spotted rose snapper Lutjanus guttatus is a marine fish with meat of exceptional quality, and commercial importance because of its potential for marine aquaculture. To assess the value of homeopathy on health enhancement of the species, ten groups of 30 juveniles each (8.72 ? 4.07 g; 8.47 ? 1.24 cm) were cultivated for 30 days in 120 L fiberglass cylinders provided with continuous aeration and filtered (50 ?m) seawater daily exchanged by 900%. An experimental design with five different treatments, each one with two replicates, was developed to determine the effect of three homeopathic mixes: Hel-Mix, Pav-Mix, and Hel-Mix/Pav-Mix, and two control groups: No-Medication (NM) and Ethanol 300GL (E). Homeopathic medicines (31CH) in treated groups and E in control group were sprayed (5% V/W) in commercial balanced food (Silvercup?) and supplied ad-libitum five times a day. Growth in total length and live weight was expressed as percentage increase. A significant (p < 0.05) increase (T1?T0) in total length and live weight occurred with homeopathic treatments Hel-Mix/Pav-Mix (15.17% and 68.16%), Pav-Mix (11.50% and 55.04%) and Hel-Mix (9.88% and 47.83%). No significant (p < 0.05) increase (T1?T0) occurred with control treatments NM (5.39% and 13.97%) and E (0.11% and 5.40%). Significantly (p < 0.05) higher survival (93.1%) occurred in homeopathic treatments Pav-Mix and Hel-Mix, compared to homeopathic mix Hel-Mix/Pav-Mix (50%) and both control groups (48.21%). These results suggest that homeopathic medicines have potential application in marine fish aquaculture. We recommend studying overall response of broodstock, larvae and juveniles treated with homeopathic medicines to improve hatchery operations from spawning to stocking size.

Highly diluted bioactive compounds in marine aquaculture: A potential alternative for sustainable production

“…The application of PaV-30C in juveniles of L. guttatus increased growth rate and survival. These improvements have been attributed to PaV relaxation effects, 16 which agrees with literature because stress reduction in aquatic organisms has already been associated to improvements in survival, growth, reproduction and general health condition. 118,119 The application of PaV-30C has also been combined with SiT-30C…”

“…toxin) and nanoparticles, among others 3,11,12,20 . Particularly, the use of HDBC, ViP, ViA, SiT, PhA, ViD, PaV and Heel‐Mix, have been evaluated in marine organisms on biological process regulation 5,6,8,15,16,23,24 …”

“…The use of HDBC has been documented in animals, plants, in vitro assays 12,[20][21][22] and recently (2016-to date) in marine organisms. 5,6,8,15,16,23,24 A wide range of substances and molecules that can be used to formulate HDBC exist, not only including herbs, minerals, metals, pathogenic bacterial lysates, diseased or parasitised animal or plant tissues, and venoms but also specific molecules, such as peptides (e.g. toxin) and nanoparticles, among others.…”

“…4,[13][14][15] Most of these treatments have successfully increased immune response and survival rates of marine organisms when challenged against pathogenic bacteria. 2,7,8,16,17 Interestingly, when HDBC are used prophylactically, not always do they activate biomarkers related to the immune response before challenge against a pathogen. However, after challenge, these biomarkers were over activated compared with the non-treated group.…”

Efecto de medicamentos homeopáticos sobre crecimiento, supervivencia y microbiota gastrointestinal, en juveniles del pectínido Argopecten ventricosus.

“…Esto es insuficiente, por lo que se requiere con urgencia enfoques más eficaces y eco-sostenibles como la homeopatía acuícola (13)(14)(15)(16)(17), la cual utiliza medicamentos derivados de minerales, plantas y animales, que ejercen su acción a dosis ultra-bajas según el "principio de similitud", incrementando la inmunidad y resistencia natural del hospedero (18). Los tratamientos homeopáticos también pueden reducir o sustituir el uso de antibióticos, hormonas, desinfectantes y sustancias no ecológicas; disminuyendo costos de producción y aumentando la calidad y la inocuidad de los moluscos, peces y crustáceos cultivados (13)(14)(15)(16).…”