A randomized controlled trial of homeopathic treatment of weaned piglets in a commercial swine herd.

AIM: To evaluate the zootechnic performance and occurrence of diarrhea in piglets in the week post-weaning comparing supplementation with sucrose saline which contained or did not contain added homeopathic medicine. METHOD: Animals were randomly divided into three groups of 24 piglets each. The control group did not receive any treatment. Another group received sucrose saline, and the third group received sucrose saline with homeopathic medicine added, in the period of zero to seven days post-weaning. The homeopathic treatment consisted of Echinacea angustifolia, Avena sativa, Ignatia amara, Calcarea carbonica, all 6cH. Piglets were weighed daily for weight gain or loss, and observed for diarrhea and feed intake. RESULTS: Animals receiving sucrose saline alone and sucrose saline with homeopathy had less weight loss than control (p=0.017, p=0.0001 respectively). There was no statistical difference in relation to overall incidence of diarrhea or food consumption. These data suggest that the supplementation with sucrose saline with added homeopathic medicine in the first seven days post-weaning may be an useful option to reduce weight loss in weaned piglets.

Frequency of anti-leptospires agglutinins in sows from a swine herd in the ibiúna municipality, state of são paulo, brazil

ABSTRACT A serologic survey was conducted among 164 sows from a single farrow-to-finish swine herd located in the Ibiúna municipality, state of São Paulo, Brasil, to determine the frequency of antileptospires agglutinins. For detection of anti-leptospires antibodies, the microscopic serumagglutination test (MAT) was carried out using live cultures of 22 pathogenic and two saprophytic Leptospira spp. serovars. The most frequent serovar was found crossing the results of frequency and titer of agglutinins, and sera presenting equal titers for two or more serovars were not considered for this analysis. Of the 164 sows, 27 (16.5%) were seropositive for at least one Leptospira spp. serovar. The most frequent serovar was Hardjo (Hardjobovis), with 13 (54.2%) reactant sera. Other reactant serovars and respective frequency were: Shermani (16.6%), Bratislava (12.5%), Autumnalis (12.5%) and Icterohaemorrhagiae (4.2%).

RESUMO Com o objetivo de determinar a freqüência de aglutininas anti-leptospiras, foi realizado um inquérito sorológico em 164 matrizes de uma granja suína de ciclo completo localizada no Município de Ibiúna, Estado de São Paulo, Brasil. Para a detecção de anticorpos anti-leptospiras, foi utilizada a técnica de soroaglutinação microscópica (SAM), utilizando-se culturas vivas de 22 sorovares patogênicos e dois sorovares saprófitos de Leptospira spp. Para a determinação do sorovar mais provável, foram considerados o título de aglutininas e a freqüência de soros reagentes, e soros que apresentaram títulos iguais para dois ou mais sorovares foram excluídos desta análise. Das 164 matrizes suínas, 27 (16,5%) foram soropositivas para pelo menos um dos sorovares empregados. O sorovar mais provável foi o Hardjo (Hardjobovis), com 13 (54,2%) soros reagentes. Também foram constatadas reações sorológicas para os seguintes sorovares: Shermani (16,6%), Bratislava (12,5%), Autumnalis (12,5%) and Icterohaemorrhagiae (4,2%).