Homeopathy 2024; 113(02): 080-085
DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1770725
Original Research Article

Randomised Controlled Trial on Prophylaxis of Mastitis–Metritis–Agalactia Syndrome in Swine using Caulophyllum Logoplex and Lachesis Logoplex

Kathrin Büttner
1   Unit for Biomathematics and Data Processing, Justus-Liebig-University, Gießen, Germany
,
Janna Oelkers
2   Institute of Animal Breeding and Husbandry, Christian-Albrechts-University, Kiel, Germany
,
Onno Burfeind
3   Chamber of Agriculture of Schleswig-Holstein, Blekendorf, Germany
,
Joachim Krieter
2   Institute of Animal Breeding and Husbandry, Christian-Albrechts-University, Kiel, Germany
,
Irena Czycholl
4   Department for Animal Welfare and Disease Control, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
› Author Affiliations
Funding None.

Abstract

Background Mastitis–metritis–agalactia (MMA) syndrome occurs in the first days post-partum and causes piglet losses mainly due to malnutrition. One possibility for prophylaxis of MMA is via homeopathy. In this veterinary study, the effectiveness of a prophylactic administration of homeopathic remedies for the prevention of the occurrence of MMA in swine was evaluated.

Methods In a randomised and blinded study, 60 sows were examined. Sows were randomly distributed in two groups: the experimental group (CL/LL) received a prophylactic administration of the complex homeopathic remedies Caulophyllum Logoplex and Lachesis Logoplex, and the placebo group was administered a sodium chloride (NaCl) solution in the same injection scheme as the experimental group. Clinical signs of MMA, behavioural changes, as well as production parameters, were recorded beginning with the day of farrowing until 5 days post-partum.

Results The treatment group showed no significant effect on the occurrence of MMA in sows (CL/LL: 56.67% MMA positive sows; NaCl: 53.53% MMA positive sows). Treatment group had also no significant effect on health parameters (vaginal discharge, raised rectal temperature, shortage of milk) or behavioural parameters (impaired feeding behaviour and impaired general condition). For the production parameter average weight gain, statistically significant effects in the treatment group were detected.

Conclusions Prophylaxis with the homeopathic remedies Caulophyllum Logoplex and Lachesis Logoplex showed neither an improvement in MMA prevention nor an improvement in health parameters or behavioural traits in the present herd of sows.

Supplementary Material



Publication History

Received: 02 February 2023

Accepted: 26 April 2023

Article published online:
31 August 2023

© 2023. Faculty of Homeopathy. This article is published by Thieme.

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

 
  • References

  • 1 Hirsch AC, Philipp H, Kleemann R. Investigation on the efficacy of meloxicam in sows with mastitis-metritis-agalactia syndrome. J Vet Pharmacol Ther 2003; 26: 355-360
  • 2 Bellavite P, Ortolani R, Pontarollo F, Pitari G, Conforti A. Immunology and homeopathy. 5. The rationale of the ‘Simile’. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2007; 4: 149-163
  • 3 Hahnemann S. Versuch über ein neues Prinzip zur Auffindung der Heilkräfte der Arzneisubstanz. In: Hufeland CW. ed. Journal der practischen Arzneykunde und wundarzneykunst. Academische Buchhandlung; 1796: 391-436 , 466–561
  • 4 Boyd LJ. A Study of the Simile in Medicine. Boericke and Tafel; 1936
  • 5 Wesselmann S. Homöopathie Beim Schwein. Narayana Verlag; 2016
  • 6 Krüger CP. Praxisleitfaden Tierhomöopathie: Vom Arzneimittel Zum Leitsymptom. Sonntag Verlag; 2006
  • 7 Doehring C, Sundrum A. Efficacy of homeopathy in livestock according to peer-reviewed publications from 1981 to 2014. Vet Rec 2016; 179: 628
  • 8 Hektoen L, Larsen S, Ødegaard SA, Løken T. Comparison of homeopathy, placebo and antibiotic treatment of clinical mastitis in dairy cows—methodological issues and results from a randomized clinical trial. J Vet Med A Physiol Pathol Clin Med 2004; 51: 439-446
  • 9 Ruegg PL. Management of mastitis on organic and conventional dairy farms. J Anim Sci 2009; 87: 43-55
  • 10 Camerlink I, Ellinger L, Bakker EJ, Lantinga EA. Homeopathy as replacement to antibiotics in the case of Escherichia coli diarrhoea in neonatal piglets. Homeopathy 2010; 99: 57-62
  • 11 Mathie RT, Lloyd SM, Legg LA. et al. Randomised placebo-controlled trials of individualised homeopathic treatment: systematic review and meta-analysis. Syst Rev 2014; 3: 142
  • 12 Mathie RT, Clausen J. Veterinary homeopathy: meta-analysis of randomised placebo-controlled trials. Homeopathy 2015; 104: 3-8
  • 13 Stiehler T, Heuwieser W, Pfützner A, Burfeind O. The course of rectal and vaginal temperature in early postpartum sows. J Swine Health Prod 2015; 23: 72-83
  • 14 SAS Institute. Base SAS® 9.4 Procedures Guide: Statistical Procedures. 2nd edition.. SAS Institute Inc; 2013
  • 15 Delsart M, Pol F, Dufour B, Rose N, Fablet C. Pig farming in alternative systems: strengths and challenges in terms of animal welfare, biosecurity, animal health and pork safety. Agriculture 2020; 10: 261
  • 16 Sutherland MA, Webster J, Sutherland I. Animal health and welfare issues facing organic production systems. Animals (Basel) 2013; 3: 1021-1035
  • 17 Kijlstra A, Eijck I. Animal health in organic livestock production systems: a review. NJAS Wagening J Life Sci 2006; 54: 77-94
  • 18 Lund V, Algers B. Research on animal health and welfare in organic farming—a literature review. Livest Prod Sci 2003; 80: 55-68
  • 19 Söbbeler FJ, Wendt S, Briese A. et al. Comparative study of pain-related responses of male piglets up to seven days of age to the application of different local anaesthetics and subsequent castration. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12: 2833