Control of Rhipicephalus microplusticks in dairy cattle using homeopathic therapy

The negative impact of Rhipicephalus microplusinfestations on cattle farming is well-known. The main control method is the use of ixodicides, which have as side effects environmental contamination, the selection of resistant lineages, and toxicity. Their use is also prohibited in systems that produce organic and agroecological food. Such factors reinforce the importance of strengthening researchrelated to the application of homeopathic principles in animal production. Aim: In this setting, this work aimed at assessing the efficacy of the homeopathic therapy to control Rhipicephalus microplusticks in dairy cattle. Methodology: 63 crossbred and Girolando breed cows, 1 and 9 years of age, naturally infested by ticks and created under a semi-intensive system in three farms (1, 2,and 3) were assayed. The animals were divided into three control groups and three treated groups, using the drug product EndectoSigo® (Psorinum12 CH, Sulphur 12CH, Ledum palustre12 CH, Cina12 CH e Apis mell.7CH) at a dose of 10 g/animal/day added to mineral and/or food supplement. The visual counting of teleogines with the size equal to or higher than four millimeters indiameter was performed in the neck or udder area of the animal. Pluviometry and registration of ixodicide baths were performed as well.The means obtained were compared by using ANOVA test and Tukey's test. Results: The mean number of teleogines on farm 1was significantly lower (p<0.05) in the treatment group. As for farms 2 and 3, there was no statistical difference between the groups (treated and control); however, it was observed that two ixodicide baths were required in the control group (farm 2). Thepluviometry did not interfere with the manifestation. Conclusion: It was concluded that the homeopathic treatment has the efficacy required to control this tick in cattle and can be an alternative to the use of chemical ixodicides.

Assessment of weight gain and control of parasitism by Rhipicephalus microplus in dairy cattle in the field using organosynthetic parasiticide, phytotherapics and homeopathy / Avaliação do ganho de peso e controle do parasitismo por Rhipicephalus microplus em bovinos leiteiros a campo usando parasiticida organosintético, fitoterápicos e homeopatia

The goal of this research was to compare the effect of the following products on dairy cattle, parasitized by Rhipicephalus microplus: organosynthetics - Clorfenvinfós and Ivermectina (OG); phytotherapics - Eucalyptus oil (EG) and Neem cake (NG); Homeopathy (HG); The control group (CG) received no treatment. Infestation was by R. microplus (MIC) and weight gain (GP) were evaluated. The study included 60 animals (5 groups) from ­ Dutch / Zebu, aged between 25-44 months and initial weight between 211-477kg. EG and NG showed MIC 84.9% and 14.0% greater than CG, respectively (P <0.05; P = 0). HG and OG had MIC less than CG 24.4% and 16.9%, respectively (P<0.05; P <0.05). EG, NG and OG obtained GP lower than CG in 7.9%, 8.9% and 8.06% (P <0.05) respectively. The HG GP was 4.9% higher (P <0.05) than CG. This was the first research to prove parasitism control by R. microplus in a field test, using homeopathy. The methodology for choosing Homeopathy for the control of enzooties, developed and tested for the first time in this study, proved to be adequate and efficient, opening the possibility for establishing a new methodology for strategic control of parasitism by R. microplus.(AU)

O objetivo desta pesquisa foi comparar o efeito dos seguintes produtos sobre bovinos leiteiros, parasitados por Rhipicephalus microplus: organossintéticos - clorfenvinfós e ivermectina (OG); fitoterápicos - óleo de eucalipto (EG) e torta de Neem (NG) e homeopatia (HG). O grupo controle (CG) não recebeu tratamento. Foram avaliados infestação por R. microplus (MIC) e ganho de peso/grupo (GP) em 60 animais (5 grupos), a partir de ­ holandês/zebu, com idade entre 25 e 44 meses e peso inicial entre 211 e 477kg. EG e NG apresentaram MIC 84,9% e 14,0% maior que CG, respectivamente (P<0,05; P=0). HG e OG apresentaram MIC menor que CG 24,4% e 16,9%, respectivamente (P<0,05; P<0,05). EG, NG e OG obtiveram GP menor que CG em 7,9%, 8,9% e 8,06% (P<0,05), respectivamente. O GP do HG foi 4,9% maior (P<0,05) que o CG. Esta foi a primeira pesquisa a comprovar controle do parasitismo por R. microplus em teste a campo, usando homeopatia. A metodologia para escolha de medicamentos homeopáticos para controle de enzootias, desenvolvida e testada pela primeira vez neste estudo, mostrou-se adequada e eficiente, abrindo a possibilidade para estabelecimento de nova metodologia para controle estratégico do parasitismo por R. microplus.(AU)

Uso de complexo homeopático reduz o parasitismo por carrapatos e amplia o intervalo de tempo entre tratamentos com acaricidas / Homeopathic complex decreases tick parasitism and increases the interval between treatments with acaricides

O presente trabalho avaliou a segurança e eficácia de 2 formulações homeopáticas no tratamento populacional de bovinos naturalmente parasitados com carrapatos da espécie Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus. Foram realizados 2 experimentos utilizando complexos homeopáticos distintos, ambos com 20 vacas adultas, raça holandesa, em diferentes estágios de lactação, distribuídas em grupo controle (n= 10) e grupo tratado (n= 10) num estudo randomizado com duplo cego. A contagem de carrapatos foi registrada nos dias 7, 14, 21 e 28 após o tratamento homeopático e, posteriormente, em intervalos de 15 dias até o dia 140 do Experimento 01 e o dia 197 do Experimento 02. A formulação homeopática utilizada no Experimento 01 apresentou eficácia de 21,1%, sendo necessária intervenção com tratamento convencional durante o período de 140 dias. A eficácia do complexo homeopático no Experimento 02 foi de 6,7%. Os resultados foram seguros e eficazes na terapia antiparasitária, tendo bons resultados quando complementados com o uso racional e correto de acaricidas. (AU)

In the present study evaluated the efficacy of 2 homeopathic formulas in the treatment of cattle naturally with Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus ticks. Two experiments were carried out using different combinations of homeopathic medicines, with 20 adult Holstein cows, in different stages of lactation, allocated to the control (n= 10) and treated (n= 10) groups in a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Tick count was performed on days 7, 14, 21 and 28 after homeopathic treatment ,and then at 15-day intervals up to day 140 in Experiment 1 and day 197 in Experiment 2. Efficacy in Experiment 1 was 21.1%, while conventional intervention was required along the 140-day period. Efficacy in Experiment 2 was 6.7%. The results indicate that the tested homeopathic formulas were safe and efficacious, outcomes being satisfactory when homeopathic treatment was combined with rational and correct conventional treatment. (AU)