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)

Evaluation of preventive homeopathic treatment against Colibacillosis in swine production / Tratamento homeopático preventivo para Colibacillosis, na produção de suínos

Escherichia coli is the most important etiologic agent implied in neonatal diarrhea in swine; colibacillosis is the disease with highest impact in production of swine. The demands of consumers for meat without chemical residues and the ban on the use of antibiotics and chemotherapics in production of swine compelled to find alternative therapeutic and preventive treatments. Aims: to assess homeopathic treatment as preventive against colibacillosis in swine. Methods: the study was conducted in a farm in Mato Grosso, Brazil; stools of 4 piglets with diarrhea were collected to establish the presence of E. coli; concomitantly it was performed a clinical exam to identify the symptoms leading to the choice of a homeopathy remedy. Newborn piglets were divided into 4 groups (n= 11 or 12): 1) control, subjected to antibiotic treatment against diarrhea; 2) homeopathic treatment, performed with Phosphorus 30cH according to the symptoms collected; 3) biotherapic treatment, performed with Escherichia coli 30cH prepared from the locally obtained bacteria; 4) homeopathic + biotherapics treatment. Results: all 3 groups treated with homeopathy/isotherapy presented a significant reduction of diarrhea compared to the control group (p=0.02); the group treated with Phosphorus 30cH + Escherichia coli 30cH presented the highest weight gain which was significant by comparison to all other groups (p=0.001). Conclusion: homeopathic and biotherapics treatment were more effective than antibiotics in the control of diarrhea in newborn piglets; combination of homeopathic and isopathic treatment resulted in the highest weight gain. These results suggest that homeopathy and isopathy are effective alternatives for the treatment of diarrhea by E. coli in newborn swine.(AU)

Escherichia coli é o agente etiológico mais importante implicado na diarréia neonatal em suínos; a colibacilose é a enfermidade com o maior impacto na produção suína. As demandas dos consumidores por carne sem resíduos químicos e a proibição do uso de antibióticos e quimioterápicos na produção de suínos têm forçado os produtores a procurar por tratamentos curativos e preventivos alternativos. Objetivos: avaliar o tratamento homeopático como profilático na colibacilose em suínos. Métodos: o estudo foi realizado numa granja em Mato Grosso, Brasil; foram colhidas fezes de 4 leitões para pesquisar a presença de E. coli; concomitantemente foi realizado exame clínico para identificar os sintomas necessários para a escolha do medicamento homeopático. Leitões recém-nascidos foram divididos em 4 grupos (n=11-12): 1) controle: tratado com antibiótico contra a diarréia; 2) tratamento homeopático, realizado com Phosphorus 30cH segundo os sintomas colhidos; 3) bioterápico, realizado com Escherichia coli 30cH preparado da cultura da bactéria localmente isolada; 4) tratamento homeopático + bioterápico. Resultados: os 3 grupos com tratamento homeopático/isoterápico apresentaram uma redução significativa da diarréia por comparação ao grupo controle (p=0,02); o grupo tratado com Phosphorus 30cH + Escherichia coli 30cH apresentou o maior ganho de peso em relação aos outros 3 grupos (p=0,001). Conclusão: os tratamentos homeopático e bioterápico foram mais efetivos que o antibiótico no controle da diarréia em leitões recém-nascidos; a combinação do tratamento homeopático e isopático resultou no maior ganho de peso. Esses resultados sugerem que homeopatia e isopatia são alternativas efetivas no tratamento da diarréia por E. coli em suínos recém-nascidos.(AU)

Evaluation of preventive homeopathic treatment against Colibacillosis in swine production

Escherichia coli is the most important etiologic agent implied in neonatal diarrhea in swine; colibacillosis is the disease with highest impact in production of swine. The demands of consumers for meat without chemical residues and the ban on the use of antibiotics and chemotherapics in production of swine compelled to find alternative therapeutic and preventive treatments. Aims: to assess homeopathic treatment as preventive against colibacillosis in swine. Methods: the study was conducted in a farm in Mato Grosso, Brazil; stools of 4 piglets with diarrhea were collected to establish the presence of E. coli; concomitantly it was performed a clinical exam to identify the symptoms leading to the choice of a homeopathy remedy. Newborn piglets were divided into 4 groups (n= 11 or 12): 1) control, subjected to antibiotic treatment against diarrhea; 2) homeopathic treatment, performed with Phosphorus 30cH according to the symptoms collected; 3) biotherapic treatment, performed with Escherichia coli 30cH prepared from the locally obtained bacteria; 4) homeopathic + biotherapics treatment. Results: all 3 groups treated with homeopathy/isotherapy presented a significant reduction of diarrhea compared to the control group (p=0.02); the group treated with Phosphorus 30cH + Escherichia coli 30cH presented the highest weight gain which was significant by comparison to all other groups (p=0.001). Conclusion: homeopathic and biotherapics treatment were more effective than antibiotics in the control of diarrhea in newborn piglets; combination of homeopathic and isopathic treatment resulted in the highest weight gain. These results suggest that homeopathy and isopathy are effective alternatives for the treatment of diarrhea by E. coli in newborn swine.