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.

L,Varying Chest Compression Rates During Neonatal Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation: A Randomized Controlled Animal Trial

Background To compare chest compression (CC) rates of 90/min with 180/min and their effect on the time to return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), survival, hemodynamic, and respiratory parameters. We hypothesized that asphyxiated newborn piglets that received CC at 180/min vs. 90/min during cardiopulmonary resuscitation would have a shorter time to ROSC.Methods Newborn piglets (n=7/group) were anesthetized, intubated, instrumented and exposed to 45 min normocapnic hypoxia followed by asphyxia and cardiac arrest. Piglets were randomly allocated to a CC rate of 180/min or 90/min. CC was performed using an automated chest compression machine. Hemodynamic and respiratory parameters and applied compression force were continuously measured.Results The mean (SD) time to ROSC was 91 (34) and 256 (97) sec for CC rates of 180/min and 90/min, respectively (p=0.08). The number of piglets that achieved ROSC was 7 (100%) and 5 (71%) with 180/min and 90/min CC rates, respectively (p=0.46). Hemodynamic parameters (i.e., diastolic and mean blood pressure, carotid blood flow, stroke volume, end-diastolic volume, left ventricular contractile function) and respiratory parameters (i.e., minute ventilation, peak inflation and peak expiration flow) were all improved with a CC rate of 180/min.Conclusion Time to ROSC and hemodynamic and respiratory parameters were all improved, with a CC rate of 180/min vs. 90/min. Higher CC rates during neonatal resuscitation warrant further investigation.

Immune status of piglets after administration of Iron(IV) clatrochelate to pregnant sows

The degree of the physiological development of the body of piglets in the first months after birth is important because, during this period, there is an active formation of many organism systems, including those that provide homeostasis. The resistance of piglets to diseases of various etiologies during life depends on the formation of the immune system. Our study aimed to assess the immune status of piglets born to sows that received injections of solutions of Iron(IV) clatrochelate and cyanocobalamin during pregnancy. To achieve this goal, two groups of newborn piglets-analogs were formed during their retention with suckling sows – control and experimental, 15 animals each. Piglets from 5 sows (3 from each) were injected into the experimental group, which were injected 10 ml of 10 % solution of Iron(IV) clatrochelate and cyanocobalamin solution twice during pregnancy (14 and 7 days before the expected farrowing) intramuscularly. Piglets of the control group, according to the traditional scheme of prevention of iron deficiency anemia on the second day of life, were administered irondextran drug uniferon (200 mg of iron (III) per injection). Piglets and sows were observed for two months; for studies of the content of immunoglobulins in the piglets' serum, the blood samples were taken at 1, 5, 12, and 30 days of life. During the experiment, the indicators of the content of immunoglobulins of classes G, A, M in the serum of piglets of the experimental group and the dynamics of their changes within 30 days after birth did not differ from the control. Two injections of 10 % solution of Iron(IV) clatrochelate in a dose of 10 ml in combination with cyanocobalamin injections at a dose of 500 mg of active substance to pregnant sows 14 and 7 days before the expected farrowing did not adversely affect the immune status of newborn piglets. Furthermore, this has a high prophylactic effect against iron deficiency anemia.

Administração de leite de coco e leite de coco com Glutamina em leitões recém-nascidos de duas linhagens comerciais / Coconut milk administration and coconut milk with glutamine in newborn piglets from two commercial strains

Objetivou-se com esse estudo avaliar o ganho de peso e a taxa de mortalidade de leitões do nascimento ao desmame quando suplementados com leite de coco ou leite de coco e glutamina. Foram acompanhados 448 leitões de linhagem especializada materna das empresas DanBred e Naima. Verificou-se o efeito no crescimento, inferindo sobre a possibilidade de ganho de peso e diminuição da mortalidade dos leitões. O experimento foi conduzido em delineamento inteiramente ao acaso em esquema fatorial composto de 2 linhagens: DanBred e Naima e 3 tratamentos: Leite de coco, Leite de coco suplementado com glutamina e água destilada. Não foi observado diferença (P0,05) no desempenho em nenhum dos parâmetros de desempenho avaliados no período do nascimento ao desmame. O peso ao nascer foi significativo para a taxa de mortalidade. A suplementação alimentar do leite de coco ou leite de coco suplementado com a glutamina não interferiu no ganho de peso e na mortalidade dos leitões neste estudo.

Serum protein electrophoretic pattern in piglets during the early postnatal period

The pattern of serum proteins, the typical features of the electrophoretogram in newborn piglets and during their postnatal development is not completely described. Therefore, the aim of this study was to characterize the changes in serum protein electrophoretic pattern and features of the electrophoretograms during the early postnatal period. Significant changes during the monitored period were found in all evaluated parameters (P < 0.001). The most marked changes were observed mainly in the period before weaning. The concentrations of total proteins, albumin and γ-globulins were before colostrum intake low, γ-globulins represented the smallest proportion of protein fractions. The proportion of α1-globulins was after birth a dominant protein fraction. Significant increase of total proteins, α2-, β- and γ-globulins and decrease of α1-globulins was found 2 days after colostrum intake. The albumin and A/G values increased after birth gradually until weaning. After weaning a significant changes were found in absolute concentrations of total protein and albumin, and in relative values of β-globulin fractions. Presented results showed marked developmental alterations in the serum protein pattern in piglets along with the age. The study also brings new knowledge in the field of description of typical features of electrophoretograms in the observed period of piglet’s life.