Pilot study of preventive homeopathic treatment for colibacillosis in a swine farm in the State of São Paulo, Brazil

Abstract

Diarrhea has become an economically important disease in pigs due to intensive management system which has been used. Escherichia coli is the most important etiological agent of neonatal and post weaning diarrhea in swine colibacillosis and the greater impact of the disease in pigs. The demand of consumers seeking meat without chemical residues and the prohibition of the use of antibiotics and chemotherapeutics in swine production has led to seek an alternative medicine for preventive and therapeutic treatments in swine breeding. This study was carried out in a commercial farm in São Paulo state. Stool samples were collected from five piglets presenting diarrhea and examined for the presence of Escherichia coli. Concomitantly, a detailed interview was done with the owner, about all clinical information useful to choose the best homeopathic medicine, using repertory method. Subsequently, four groups were formed consisting of 11-12 piglets each: a control group (antimicrobial used in the farm routine for treatment of diarrhea), a group treated with the chosen homeopathic medicine - China officinalis 30 CH - a group treated with E. coli biotherapic 30 CH (medicine made from E. coli strains collected and isolated from the same farm) and a group treated with both homeopathic and biotherapic E. coli medicines. There was no statistical difference in the number of animals presenting diarrhea among groups, but China treated pigs showed greater weight gain compared to the other three groups (Fisher test, p = 0.0001), despite the incidence of diarrhea. In conclusion, this preliminary study suggests that the use of repertory chosen homeopathic medicines could improve productivity in swine farms even though clinical manifestations of diarrhea occur.