Download PDF
Homeopathy 2008; 97(04): 190-195
DOI: 10.1016/j.homp.2008.08.007
Original Paper
Copyright © The Faculty of Homeopathy 2008

Effects of a homeopathic complex in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus L.) on performance, sexual proportion and histology

M. Valentim-Zabott
1   Universidade Federal do Paraná – Campus Palotina, PR, Brazil
,
L. Vargas
2   Department of Animal Science, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, PR, Brazil
,
R.P.R. Ribeiro
2   Department of Animal Science, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, PR, Brazil
,
R. Piau
3   Universidade Paranaense, Umuarama – PR, Brazil
,
M.B.A. Torres
1   Universidade Federal do Paraná – Campus Palotina, PR, Brazil
,
M. Rönnau
1   Universidade Federal do Paraná – Campus Palotina, PR, Brazil
,
J.C. Souza
1   Universidade Federal do Paraná – Campus Palotina, PR, Brazil
› Author Affiliations
Subject Editor:
Further Information

Publication History

Received04 July 2007
revised27 June 2008

accepted05 August 2008

Publication Date:
22 December 2017 (online)

Also available at
    Permissions and Reprints

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of the homeopathic complex Homeopatila RS ® (REAL Homeopathy, Brazil), in the performance, sexual proportion and gills and liver histology of the Nile tilapia fish (Oreochromis niloticus L.). 4,800 post-larvae were treated for 45 days, in 12 tanks (500 L), in a closed environment, with density of 400 larvae per tank. Three treatments were given: alcohol 30%, negative control (C); hormonal, positive control, 17α-methyltestosterone (H); homeopathic, Homeopatila RS® , in ethanol (HH), with four replications. Mean values for length, weight, liver somatic index, condition factor, survival rate, average values of histological alterations and sexual proportion were determined. Analysis revealed significant differences (p < 0.05) in growth, survival rate, liver somatic index and average values of hepatic histological alterations between treatments. It was concluded that the addition of Homeopatila RS® to the diet of Nile tilapias, during the phase of gonadal differentiation, did not induce any alteration in the sexual proportion. Homeopathically treated fish were significantly smaller, but had significantly greater survival than the other two groups, there was no significant difference in final total biomass. The homeopathically treated fish had a lower liver/somatic index with less hepatic lipid inclusions than the other groups.

Keywords

Nile tilapia - homeopathy - liver somatic index - survival - histology - sexual proportion
 

  • References

  • 1 Ribeiro R.P. Espécies exóticas. In: Moreira H.L.M., Vargas L., Ribeiro R.P., Zimmermann S. Fundamentos da Moderna Aqüicultura. 2001. Canoas: ULBRA; 91-115.
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 2 Baldisserotto B. Fisiologia de peixes aplicada à piscicultura. Santa Maria: UFSM; 2002.
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 3 Benez S.M., Jacobs P.H., Cairo N. et al. Manual de homeopatia veterinária. Ribeirão Preto: Tecmedd; 2004.
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 4 Hanemann S. Organon da arte de curar. 6a edn. São Paulo: Robe Editorial; 2001.
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 5 Benites N.R. Homeopatia. In: Spinosa H.S., Gorniak S.L., Bernardi M.M. Farmacologia aplicada a Medicina Veterinária. 3rd edn. 2002. Rio de Janeiro: Guanabara Koogan; 700-708.
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 6 Guedes J.R.F., Ferreira C.M., Guimarães H.M.B., Saldiva P.H.N., Capelozzi V.L. Homeopathically prepared dilution of Rana catesbeiana thyroid glands modifies its rate of metamorphosis. Homeopathy 2004; 93 (03) 132-137.
    Thieme ConnectPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 7 Eiras J.E., Takemoto R.M., Pavanelli G.C. Métodos de estudo e técnicas laboratoriais em parasitologia de peixes. Maringá: EDUEM; 2000.
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 8 Tavares-Dias M., Martins M.L., Moraes F.R. Fauna parasitária de peixes oriundos de “pesque-pague” do município de Franca, São Paulo, Brasil. I Protozoários. Rev Bras Zool 2001; 18 (01) 67-69.
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 9 Schwaiger J., Wanke R., Adam S., Pawer M., Honnen W., Triebskorn R. The use of histopathological indicators to evaluate contaminant-related stress in fish. J Aquat Ecosyst Stress Recov 1997; 6: 75-86.
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 10 Wassermann G.J., Afonso L.O.B. Validation of the aceto-carmine technique for evaluating phenotypic sex in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fry. Cienc Rural 2002; 32 (01) 133-139.
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 11 SAS –Statistical Analysis System. User Guide: Start, Cary (NC: SAS INSTITUTE INC.) 2002.
    PubMed
  • 12 Pavanelli G.C., Eiras J.C., Takemoto R.M. Doenças de peixes: profilaxia, diagnóstico e tratamento. Maringá: EDUEM; 1998.
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 13 Vargas L. Efeito da vitamina C, da vitamina E, do cloreto de sódio e da formalina na ocorrência de ectoparasitos em tilápias do Nilo (Oreochromis niloticus). In: Ranzani-Paiva M.J., Takemoto R.M., Lizama M. de los A.P. Sanidade de Organismos Aquáticos. 2004. São Paulo: Varela; 371-382.
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 14 Cavichiolo F., Vargas V., Ribeiro R.P., Moreira H.L.M., Leonardo J.M. Níveis de suplementação de vitamina C na ração sobre a ocorrência de ectoparasitos, sobrevivência e biomassa em alevinos de tilápia do Nilo (Oreochromis niloticus L.). Acta Sci 2002; 24 (04) 957-964.
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 15 Lim C., Webster C.D. Nutrition and fish health. New York: Food Products Press; 2001.
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 16 Vera Cruz E.M., Mair G.C. Conditions for effective androgen sex reversal in Oreochromis niloticus (L.). Aquaculture 1994; 122: 237-248.
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 17 Popma T.J., Lovshin L.L. Worldwide prospects for commercial production of tilapia. Auburn: Auburn University, Center for Aquaculture and Aquatic Environments, Department of Fisheries and Allied Aquaculture; 1994.
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 18 Martins M.L., Moraes F.R., Moraes J.R.E., Malheiros E.B. Falha na resposta do cortisol ao estresse por captura e por carragenina em Piaractus mesopotamicus Holmberg, 1887 (Osteichthyes: Characidae). Acta Sci 2000; 22 (02) 545-552.
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 19 Adams S.M. Status and use of biological indicators for evaluating the effects of stress in fish. In: Adams S.M. Biological indicators of stress in fish. 1990. Bethesda: American Fisheries Society; 1-8 Symposium 8.
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 20 Lima S., Loures B.R.R. Fisiologia de peixes. In: Moreira H.L.M., Vargas L., Ribeiro R.P., Zimmermann S. Fundamentos da Moderna Aqüicultura. 2001. Canoas: ULBRA; 23-28.
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 21 Endler P.C., Lüdtke R., Heckmann C. et al. Pretreatment with thyroxine (10−8 parts by weight) enhances a ‘curative’ effect of homeopathically prepared thyroxine (10−13) on lowland frogs. Res Compl Med 2003; 10: 137-142.
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 22 Welles S.U., Endler P.C., Scherer-Pongratz W. et al. Pretreatment with thyroxin 10−8 and the effect of homeopathically prepared thyroxin 10−30 on highland frogs - a multi-researcher study. Res Compl Med 2007; 14: 353-357.
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 23 Weber S., Endler P.C., Welles S.U. et al. The effect of homeopathically prepared thyroxine on highland frogs: influence of electromagnetic fields. Homeopathy 2008; 97: 3-9.
    Thieme ConnectPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 24 Soares M.C.F., Urbinati E.C., Senhorini J.A. Variação periódica da Triiodotironina (T3) plasmática e sua ação na reprodução induzida do matrinchã, Brycon cephalus (Günther, 1869) em cativeiro. Rev Bras Zoot 2003; 32 (06) 1825-1834.
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 25 Cavichiolo F. Desempenho e morfologia de brânquias e fígado de tilápias do Nilo (Oreochromis niloticus) alimentadas com diferentes níveis e fontes de proteínas. 2005. 57f. Tese (Doutorado em Zootecnia) - Universidade Estadual de Maringá, 2005.
    PubMed
  • 26 Bruslé J., Anadon G.G.I. The structure and function of fish liver. In: Munshi J.S.D., Dutta H.M. Fish Morphology, Horizon of New Research. 1996. Enfield, New Hampshire: Science Publisher Inc; 77-93.
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 27 Lanna E.A.T., Pezzato L.E., Furuya W.M. et al. Fibra bruta e óleo em dietas práticas para alevinos de tilápia do Nilo (Oreochromis niloticus). Rev Bras Zoot 2004; 33 (06) 2177-2185.
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 28 Varghese S., Oommen O.V. Thyroid hormones regulate lipid metabolism in a teleost Anabas testudineus (Bloch). Comp Biochem Physiol 1999; 124: 445-450.
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 29 Leonardo J.M.L.O., Vargas L., Ribeiro R.P. et al. Histologia de brânquias e tilápia do Nilo (Oreochromis niloticus) de origem tailandesa, submetidas a diferentes níveis de vitamina C (ácido ascórbico). Acta Sci 2001; 24 (04) 863-870.
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 30 Hein G. Avaliação do vorozol, um inibidor não esteroidal específico da aromatase, em tilápias do Nilo (Oreochromis niloticus). I. Reversão sexual de alevinos. II. Desempenho nas fases de crescimento e engorda. 2003. 43f. Dissertação (Mestrado em Zootecnia) – Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, 2003.
    PubMed
  • 31 Mainardes-Pinto C.S.R., Fenerich-Verani N., Campos B.E.S., Silva A.L. Masculinização da tilápia do Nilo, Oreochromis niloticus, utilizando diferentes rações e diferentes doses de 17 a-metiltestosterona. Rev Bras Zoot 2000; 29: 654-659.
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar