Pilot study: evaluation of homeopathic treatment of Escherichia coli infected swine with identification of virulence factors involved

Aim: To evaluate the efficacy of prophylactic homeopathic treatment of swine diarrhea to achievea satisfactory balance between weight gain and cost. Methods: Escherichia coli (E. coli) wasisolated from 4 piglets with diarrhea, their clinical signs were used to select the adequate homeopathic medicine China officinalis (Chin). Newborn piglets were divided in 4 groups (n=11or 12): control group treated with the routinely used antimicrobial agent (ceftiofur 4 mg 1ml/piglet for 3 days); one group with homeopathic medicine Chin 30 cH; one group treated with biotherapy prepared from locally isolated E. coli; and one group was treated with association ofChin and biotherapy. All isolated samples of E. coli were subjected to polymerase chain reaction(PCR) to identify virulence factors in each group. Results: There was no difference in the numberof animals with diarrhea between groups treated with homeopathic medicine and control; weightgain was greater in groups treated with homeopathic medicine alone and associated withbiotherapy compared to control (p<0.05). Cost of homeopathic treatment was lower compared toceftiofur. Only one E. coli sample used to prepare biotherapy medicine tested positive forvirulence factors (F41); 3 samples from the Chin treated group tested positive for Stbenterotoxins; 1 sample from the homeopathic medicine plus biotherapy treated group and 1 sample from the biotherapy treated group tested positive for F41; 2 samples from the controlgroup tested positive for F41. Conclusion: Strain variability was too large in PCR to allow forany conclusion; despite feces tested positive for E. coli, weight gain of piglets was greater ingroups with homeopathic treatment that thus can be rated more effective in newborn piglets diarrhea.(AU)

Behavioural problems in pets

There are currently an estimated 15 milion dogs and cats living in British homes. The majority of these animals are much loved pets, increasingly treated as equal menbers of the family and, as we all know, capable of hugely enriching the lives of their human owners.

Metrite em cadelas: uma opcao de tratamento seguro e sem cirurgia, com med. hom / Metritis in bitches: an option of secure treatment without surgery, with hom. med

Este trabalho teve como objetivo nao tratar atraves de cirurgia a metrite em cadelas. Embora outros tratamentos estejam sendo tentados, o tratamento cirurgico e o de eleicao nest patologia. Os tratamentos testados ate agora possuem alguns inconvenientes. Sao de custo elevado, tem varios efeitos colaterais que obrigam os animais a serem hospitalizados durante parte do tratamento e seus resultados, ainda estao sendo avaliados. Durante cinco anos de rotina clinica usando os medicamentos homeopaticos alguns animais foram tratados de metrite. Destes foram descritos dois casos considerados bastante ilustrativos. Os animais eram identificados com fichas individuais que continham sua resenha e dados do proprietario. A data de cada retorno era anotada assim como as melhoras, pioras e medicamentos utilizados durante o tratamento