Isopathic and pluralist homeopathic treatment of commercial broilers with experimentally induced colibacillosis

Gastrointestinal response to the early administration of antimicrobial agents in growing turkeys infected with Escherichia coli

This study investigated the effects of the early administration of enrofloxacin (E) or doxycycline (D) for the first 5 consecutive days of life, or the continuous administration of the coccidiostat monensin (M) throughout the rearing period on gastrointestinal function in turkeys infected with avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) in an early or later stage of rearing. Experiment 1 lasted 21 d, and turkeys in groups E, D, and M were infected with APEC on d 15. Experiment 2 lasted 56 d, and it had a factorial arrangement of treatments where birds in groups E, D, and M were infected with APEC on d 15 or d 50. In both experiments, control groups (C) consisted of infected and uninfected birds without antibiotic or coccidiostat administration. On d 21 (Experiment 1) and d 56 (Experiment 2), 8 birds from each subgroup were killed, and the ileal and cecal digesta were sampled to analyze the activity of bacterial enzymes and the concentrations of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA). The experimental treatments did not affect the final body weight or body weight gain of birds. Both experiments demonstrated that APEC contributed to an increase in ammonia levels of the cecal digesta (means from 2 experiments: 0.311 vs. 0.225 mg/g in uninfected birds) and ileal pH (6.79 vs. 6.00) and viscosity (2.43 vs. 1.83 mPa⋅s). Moreover, the E. coli challenge enhanced the extracellular activity of several cecal bacterial enzymes, especially in older turkeys infected with APEC in a later stage of life. The continuous administration of monensin throughout the rearing period resulted in a weaker gastrointestinal response in older birds, compared with the other 2 antibiotics administered for the first 5 d of life. The results of the study are inconclusive as both desirable and undesirable effects of preventive early short-term antibiotic therapy were observed in turkeys, including normalization of ileal viscosity and cecal ammonia concentration (positive effect), and disruption in cecal SCFA production (negative effect).

Assessing the Feasibility of a Two-Cohort Design to Assess the Potential of Homeopathic Medicinal Products to Reduce Antimicrobial Resistance in Turkeys (The HOMAMR Project)-Study Protocol

BACKGROUND

 Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a serious public health concern worldwide. The European Union requires a reduction in the use of antibiotics by 50% by 2030, with separate regulations on organic production that give preference to homeopathy and phytotherapy in organic farms before the use of conventional medicines (including antibiotics). We have therefore designed a two-phased project whose overarching aim is to investigate the potential role of homeopathic medicinal products (HMPs) in combating AMR in turkeys (the HOMAMR project): a two-cohort feasibility study using turkey-farm data that have been collected and analyzed retrospectively, followed by a prospective two-cohort study in turkey farms that would examine the impact of HMPs on changing antibiotic use.

OBJECTIVE

 The objective of this paper is to describe the protocol for the first phase of HOMAMR, which is a study under field conditions to assess the feasibility of collecting data retrospectively about turkeys that have been managed conventionally only or with HMPs.

METHODS

 Surveys performed on farms in Germany and Austria, including interviews with consenting farmers, will determine the feasibility of comparing retrospectively gathered data on antibiotic use and performance/production data in two cohorts of turkeys: (1) homeopathic treatment with conventional care (antibiotics) added if necessary or (2) conventional care (antibiotics) only. Co-primary outcomes to be studied are the amount of antimicrobial use and production period-related mortality. In addition, other production/performance parameters will be compared between the two treated cohorts.

CONCLUSION

 To our knowledge, this is the first feasibility study on the treatment of turkeys using homeopathy, and whose retrospectively obtained data will inform a prospective study that would examine the impact of HMPs on antibiotic use in commercial turkey raising, fattening and breeding production.

Effects of group size and homeopathic product supplement consisting of botanicals and mineral mixture on the performance and production traits of finishing pigs

A total of 144 mixed sex pigs [(Landrace × Yorkshire) × Duroc] with an initial average body weight (BW) of 52 kg were used in a 11 wk trial in a 2 × 2 factorial design with the following factors: group size (three pigs per pen vs. five pigs per pen) and 0% or 0.2% homeopathic product supplementation to evaluate growth performance, nutrient digestibility, meat quality, and stress-related hormones. The homeopathic product supplementation resulted in increased (P < 0.05) BW at week 11, average daily gain (ADG) during days 42–63 and 64–77. In addition, an increase (P < 0.05) in ADG and average daily feed intake during overall experiment period and an increase (P < 0.05) in apparent total tract digestibility of dry matter at day 77 were observed in pigs receiving homeopathic product. A trend in increase (P = 0.088) in serum cortisol concentration during day 42 and increase (P > 0.05) during day 77 was observed in pigs with group size of five pigs per pen, and this was reduced when homeopathic product was supplemented to the diet. In conclusion, the variation in number of animals per pen had no effects on performance and production traits, but the animals in bigger group size had higher serum cortisol concentrations which were reduced by the homeopathic product supplementation.

In vivo typing of Escherichia coli obtained from laying chickens with the E. coli peritonitis syndrome

RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS

Even at high doses not any E. coli strain can induce EPSSubstantial differences in virulence exist within very virulent E. coli strainsThe embryo lethality test is a useful alternative for biotyping E. coli in laying hensBroiler colibacillosis may represent a source of EPS strains for layers and vice versa.

The effects of road transportation with or without homeopathic remedy supplementation on growth performance, apparent nutrient digestibility, fecal microbiota, and serum cortisol and superoxide dismutase levels in growing pigs

The specialization of swine production and the market demand for pigs at different growth stages makes road transportation inevitable. However, road transportation usually causes a stress response in pigs. It is reported that homeopathic remedies supplementation could alleviate the stress response in pigs. This study investigated the effects of road transportation with or without homeopathic remedy (Convermax) supplementation on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, fecal microbiota, and serum cortisol and superoxide dismutase (SOD) concentrations in growing pigs. A total of 180 crossbred 49-d-old growing pigs [(Yorkshire × Landrace) × Duroc] with an initial body weight of 13.17 ± 0.02 kg were randomly allotted to 2 groups based on the initial body weight, containing 18 replicates with 5 pigs (mixed sex) in each. The pigs were fed dietary supplementation of a homeopathic remedy (Convermax) (0 or 200 mg/kg of feed, as-fed) for 35 d. On day 21, 45 pigs (70-d old; 25.25 ± 0.37 kg) were randomly selected from each group and assigned to either 2 hr of road transportation or no road transportation, resulting in a 2 × 2 factorial design. We found that road transportation led to an increase in the fecal coliform bacteria counts (P = 0.023) and serum cortisol concentration (P = 0.039) and a decrease in the serum SOD concentration (P < 0.001). However, supplementing homeopathic remedy (Convermax) to the diet of growing pigs increased gain to feed ratio (P = 0.042), apparent nitrogen digestibility (P = 0.019), and serum SOD concentration (P = 0.007), whereas decreased serum cortisol concentration (P = 0.022). In brief, road transportation induced stress response for growing pigs and increased harmful bacteria counts in their intestines. Dietary supplementation of homeopathic remedy (Convermax) alleviated stress response, improved apparent nitrogen digestibility, and increased gain to feed ratio. However, no significant interactive effects between road transportation with or without dietary homeopathic remedy (Convermax) levels were observed on the detected parameters in growing pigs.

Efficacy of homeopathy in livestock according to peer-reviewed publications from 1981 to 2014

Homeopathy is widely used in livestock, especially in order to reduce the use of antibiotics, although it is often seen as controversial. A comprehensive literature review has been conducted to assess the efficacy of homeopathy in cattle, pigs and poultry. Only peer-reviewed publications dealing with homeopathic remedies, which could possibly replace or prevent the use of antibiotics in the case of infective diseases or growth promotion in livestock were included. Search results revealed a total number of 52 trials performed within 48 publications fulfilling the predefined criteria. Twenty-eight trials were in favour of homeopathy, with 26 trials showing a significantly higher efficacy in comparison to a control group, whereas 22 showed no medicinal effect. Cure rates for the treatments with antibiotics, homeopathy or placebo varied to a high degree, while the remedy used did not seem to make a big difference. Looking at all the studies, no study was repeated under comparable conditions. Consequently, the use of homeopathy currently cannot claim to have sufficient prognostic validity where efficacy is concerned. When striving for high therapeutic success in treatment, the potential of homeopathy in replacing or reducing antibiotics can only be validated if evidence of efficacy is confirmed by randomised controlled trials under modified conditions.

Infection models in basic research on homeopathy

INTRODUCTION

The objective of this study was to search for effective agents for the treatment of infections in animals or infected cell lines.

METHODS

The Homeopathic Basic Research experiments (HomBRex) database (http://www.carstens-stiftung.de/hombrex) on model biological systems in homeopathic research was searched. Eligible experiments were reviewed and analysed.

RESULTS

The database contains 48 eligible experiments published from 1832 to 2009. Causative pathogens were bacteria, fungi, viruses, proto- and metazoa. In the experiments, various parameters were observed and a large set of medicines was investigated. In eight of the 48 experiments, at least one of the investigated medicines was selected according to the similia principle. Nosodes and homeopathic complexes were investigated in 8 and 14 experiments respectively. Mice were the most often used host organisms (13 experiments). In 31 experiments at least one homeopathic medicine was found effective for treatment.

CONCLUSION

The results of basic research experiments may invigorate new clinical trials that investigate complementary treatments for infectious diseases. However, all experiments reviewed here await replication and no clear-cut conclusion can be drawn regarding the transferability of in vitro results to in vivo outcomes.

Homeopathy as replacement to antibiotics in the case of Escherichia coli diarrhoea in neonatal piglets

BACKGROUND

The use of antibiotics in the livestock sector is increasing to such an extent that it threatens negative consequences for human health, animal health and the environment. Homeopathy might be an alternative to antibiotics. It has therefore been tested in a randomised placebo-controlled trial to prevent Escherichia coli diarrhoea in neonatal piglets.

METHOD

On a commercial pig farm 52 sows of different parities, in their last month of gestation, were treated twice a week with either the homeopathic agent Coli 30K or placebo. The 525 piglets born from these sows were scored for occurrence and duration of diarrhoea.

RESULTS

Piglets of the homeopathic treated group had significantly less E. coli diarrhoea than piglets in the placebo group (P<.0001). Especially piglets from first parity sows gave a good response to treatment with Coli 30K. The diarrhoea seemed to be less severe in the homeopathically treated litters, there was less transmission and duration appeared shorter.

Reporting experiments in homeopathic basic research (REHBaR)--a detailed guideline for authors

BACKGROUND

Reporting experiments in basic research in homeopathy is an important issue as comprehensive description of what exactly was done is required. So far, there is no guideline for authors available, unlike criteria catalogues common in clinical research.

METHODS

A Delphi Process was conducted, including a total of five rounds, three rounds of adjusting and phrasing plus two consensus conferences. European researchers who published experimental work within the last five years were involved.

RESULTS

A checklist of 23 items was obtained and supplemented with detailed examples emphasizing what each item implies. Background, objectives and possible hypotheses should be given in the part 'introduction'. Special emphasis is put on the 'materials and methods' section, where a detailed description of chosen controls, object of investigation, experimental setup, replication, parameters, intervention, allocation, blinding, and statistical methods is required. The section 'results' should present sufficient details on analysed data, descriptive as well as inferential. Authors should discuss their results and give an interpretation in the context of current evidence.

CONCLUSION

A guideline for Reporting Experiments in Homeopathic Basic Research (REHBaR) was compiled to be applied by authors when preparing their manuscripts, and to be used by scientific journals in the reviewing process. Furthermore the guideline is a commitment to a certain minimum quality level needed in basic research, e.g. blinding and randomisation. Feedback is encouraged on applicability, strength and limitations of the list to enable future revisions.

Isopathic versus enantiomeric inhibition of U-50488 HCl toxicity--experimental studies

BACKGROUND

Previous studies have investigated toxicity inhibition of optically active compounds by potentized preparations of their enantiomers. It was hypothesised that inhibition of toxicity may be stereospecific. This paper presents 2 studies investigating stereoisomer potencies in terms of their ability to counteract toxicity of the (-) stereoisomer. The stereoisomers used were (-)-trans-(1S,2S)-U-50488 HCl and (+)-trans-(1R,2R)-U-50488 HCl.

MATERIALS & METHODS

Designs were prospective, blind, randomised, intention-to-treat and compared the efficacy of 2 indistinguishable treatments. The outcome was the difference in survival. Potency 'chords' consisting of 4th, 12th and 30th approximately centesimal dilutions were prepared, representing concentrations of 1.08 x 10(-10) M. One study compared inhibition of (-)-U-50488 toxicity injected ip at the estimated LD50 into male ICR mice, treated with a potency chord of the same stereoisomer, with control ('isopathic' study). The other study compared inhibition of toxicity by potency chords made from the stereoisomers (+)-U-50488 and (-)-U-50488 ('enantiomer' study), Treatments were administered orally on 11 occasions: twice before and nine times after ip injections.

RESULTS

The isopathic study did not yield a significant result. In the enantiomer study, comparison of isopathy with enantiomer potency treatment showed a highly significant difference odds ratio 1.97 (95% CI: 1.23-3.14).

CONCLUSION

We conclude that enantiomeric potencies are superior to identically produced isopathic potencies, in inhibiting toxicity of (-)-U-50488 HCl. Homeopathic inhibition of toxicity may be stereospecific.

Role of thyroid hormones, maternal antibodies, and antibody response in the susceptibility to colibacillosis of broiler genotypes

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether differences in susceptibility to colibacillosis are associated with maternal antibodies, antibody response, and alterations in thyroid hormones [triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4)] and to investigate the effect of genotype on the changes in T3 and T4 during challenge and antibody response. A challenge experiment was executed in 2 trials. Per trial, 24 chicks per genotype were challenged, and 20 chicks per genotype were controls. At 7 d of age, challenged chicks were intratracheally inoculated with 0.3 mL of Escherichia coli O78K80 and controls with 0.3 mL of PBS. All chicks were euthanized at 14 or 15 d. Thyroid hormone plasma concentrations and E. coli-specific antibody titers (AB) were measured at 7 d (T(3 d7), T(4 d7), and AB(d7)) and 14 or 15 d (change from 7 to 14 or 15 d was analyzed: DeltaT(3), DeltaT(4), and DeltaAB). Susceptibility was defined based on mortality, lesions, growth retardation, and eating behavior. There was a significant effect of challenge on T(3 d7); probably due to eating pattern in association with circadian rhythm. The challenge group was suggested to have functional hypothyroidism relative to the control group, indicating metabolic changes due to the challenge, and it was indicated that an antibody response was elicited. Differences in susceptibility were not significantly related to differences in T(3 d7), T(4 d7), DeltaT(3), or DeltaT(4) or to maternal antibodies (AB(d7)), but the antibody response tended to increase (decreasing DeltaAB) with increasing susceptibility. There were indications of genetic variation in T(4 d7), DeltaT(4), AB(d7), and DeltaAB, but there was no observed effect of genotype on DeltaT(3) and DeltaT(4) during challenge or on the antibody response. Further, there were indications that selection for growth traits has resulted in alterations in DeltaT(4) due to challenge, as indicated by a lower DeltaT(4) in the challenge group relative to the control group for more intensively selected genotypes as opposed to a higher DeltaT(4) for less intensively selected genotypes.

Immunology and homeopathy. 3. Experimental studies on animal models

A search of the literature and the experiments carried out by the authors of this review show that there are a number of animal models where the effect of homeopathic dilutions or the principles of homeopathic medicine have been tested. The results relate to the immunostimulation by ultralow doses of antigens, the immunological models of the ‘simile’, the regulation of acute or chronic inflammatory processes and the use of homeopathic medicines in farming. The models utilized by different research groups are extremely etherogeneous and differ as the test medicines, the dilutions and the outcomes are concerned. Some experimental lines, particularly those utilizing mice models of immunomodulation and anti-inflammatory effects of homeopathic complex formulations, give support to a real effect of homeopathic high dilutions in animals, but often these data are of preliminary nature and have not been independently replicated. The evidence emerging from animal models is supporting the traditional ‘simile’ rule, according to which ultralow doses of compounds, that in high doses are pathogenic, may have paradoxically a protective or curative effect. Despite a few encouraging observational studies, the effectiveness of the homeopathic prevention or therapy of infections in veterinary medicine is not sufficiently supported by randomized and controlled trials.

Defining susceptibility of broiler chicks to colibacillosis

This study aimed to define the susceptibility of broilers to colibacillosis through quantification of clinical responses and to examine the relationship between susceptibility and growth retardation. A challenge experiment was carried out twice. In each trial, 192 chicks were challenged intratracheally with Escherichia coli (E. coli) at 7 days of age and 160 chicks served as controls. Surviving chicks were euthanized at 14 or 15 days. Parameters measured were: daily mortality, lesion scores, body weight at 1, 4, 7, 10, 12 and 14 or 15 days and feeding behaviour at 6, 11 and 13 days. The results were reproducible, and increasing susceptibility to colibacillosis was defined by four categories: chicks without lesions, chicks with airsacculitis but no systemic lesions, chicks with systemic lesions, and chicks that die. Increasing susceptibility was associated with increasing growth retardation, but growth retardation was not inevitably linked to challenge with E. coli.

Genetic variation among broiler genotypes in susceptibility to colibacillosis

Selection for reduced susceptibility to colibacillosis in broilers may contribute to the prevention of colibacillosis. Such selection should focus on the responses to Escherichia coli rather than the associated primary agent(s). The purpose of the current study was to examine whether genetic variation is present in the susceptibility to colibacillosis. This was achieved through an evaluation of the susceptibility to primary colibacillosis in 5 pure broiler lines, a slow-growing line, and two 2-way crosses of the pure lines (altogether referred to as genotypes). A challenge experiment was executed in 2 trials. Per trial, 24 chicks per genotype were challenged and 20 chicks per genotype were controls. At 7 d of age, challenged chicks were intratracheally inoculated with 0.3 mL of E. coli O78K80 solution, and controls with 0.3 mL of PBS. All chicks were euthanized at 14 or 15 d. Traits measured were mortality, lesion scores (airsacculitis, pericarditis, and perihepatitis) at 14 or 15 d, and BW at 1, 4, 7, 10, 12, and 14 or 15 d. An effect of genotype on mortality, lesion prevalence, and growth retardation was found, indicating the presence of genetic variation in susceptibility to colibacillosis, and suggesting that selection for reduced susceptibility is possible. There were large between-genotype differences in mortality (up to 46%) and in lesion prevalence (up to 41%). Growth retardation was not observed for any genotype in chicks without lesions, whereas genotypes differed from none to 20% growth retardation for chicks with airsacculitis but no systemic lesions, and up to 13% for chicks with systemic lesions. The heterosis in susceptibility and growth retardation was found to be either negative or absent, indicating that crossbreeding would not be an advantage for the selection for reduced susceptibility, and that test crossing is essential.