Abstract

The aim of the experiment was to verify the efficacy of the treatment of psoroptic mange in a flock of Churra sheep farmed under organic production conditions, using alternative methods. One group, C Control (N=9), was given no treatment, a second group, TAH Antihomotoxic (N=10), was intramuscularly administered an antihomotoxic preparation every two days, thus receiving a total of seven injections over a two-week period. The third group, TCI Citronella (N=10), was topically administered a 1% solution of 50%essential Citronella Java oil and 50% Potassium Soap twice daily, in each milking, during the two-week period. A fourth group, TCIT Citronella+Thymol (N=10), was topically administered Citronella with 1% mother tincture of Thymol to boost the acaricide activity. The results obtained were analysed by ANOVA for scores and improvement of lesions. At the end of the experiment, TCI and TCIT showed significantly fewer lesions (P<0.05) than the control group and TAH, no differences being detected between the latter two groups. Improvement was significantly higher (P<0.05) in TCI (45%) and TCTT (48%) in comparison with the control group,which only showed 3% improvement. TAH improved by 30% (P<0.05) in comparison with the control group. There were no significant differences between TCI and TCIT. 

In conclusion, treatment with essential Citronella Java oil and potassium soap can be used as an alternative to conventional methods to control psoroptic mange

de la Fuente, L.F.

Lafuente, M.A.

Palacios, C.

English

Organic Eprints

Options Méditerranéennes, A(orB) XX, 2009   Alternative treatments in the control of psoroptic mange in a flock of organic production sheep.  C. Palacios1* , M. A. Lafuente2, L. F. de la Fuente3  1Área de Producción Animal, Universidad de Salamanca, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Ambientales, Avda. Filiberto Villalobos,119-129, Salamanca. Tel. 659909488 carlospalacios@colvet.es 2Servicios Técnicos Veterinarios. C/El Cerco 13. 49026. Zamora. 3Departamento de Producción Animal. Facultad de Veterinaria. Universidad de León.24071-León    Abstract The aim of the experiment was to verify the efficacy of the treatment of psoroptic mange in a flock of Churra  sheep  farmed  under  organic  production  conditions,  using  alternative  methods.    One  group,  C Control (N=9), was given no treatment, a second group, TAH Antihomotoxic (N=10), was intramuscularly administered an antihomotoxic preparation every two days, thus receiving a total of seven injections over a two-week period.  The third group, TCI Citronella (N=10), was topically administered a 1% solution of 50% essential Citronella Java oil and 50% Potassium Soap twice daily, in each milking, during the two-week period.  A  fourth  group,  TCIT  Citronella+Thymol  (N=10),  was  topically  administered  Citronella  with  1% mother tincture of Thymol to boost the acaricide activity. The results obtained were analysed by ANOVA for scores and improvement of lesions.  At the end of the experiment, TCI and TCIT showed significantly fewer lesions (P<0.05) than the control group and TAH, no differences being detected between the latter two groups.  Improvement was significantly higher (P<0.05) in TCI (45%) and TCTT (48%) in comparison with  the  control  group,  which  only  showed  3%  improvement.    TAH  improved  by  30%  (P<0.05)  in comparison  with  the  control  group.  There  were  no  significant  differences  between  TCI  and  TCIT.  In conclusion, treatment with essential Citronella Java oil and potassium soap can be used as an alternative to conventional methods to control psoroptic mange.   Key words: sheep- psoroptic mange- essentials oils- homeopathy.   DES THÉRAPIES ALTERNATIVES CONTRE LA GALE PSOROPTIQUE TESTÉES SUR UN TROUPEAU DE BREBIS BIOLOGIQUES.  Résumé:  L'objectif de l'expérience a été de prouver l'efficacité d'un traitement alternatif de la gale psoroptique sur un troupeau de brebis biologiques de race «churra», une race autochtone de Castille-León. Au premier groupe, groupe témoin appelé TC Control (n=9) aucun traitement n'a été administré. Au second groupe, appelé TAH Antihomotoxiques (n=10) des injections de trois préparations antihomotoxiques ont été faites, par voie intramusculaire, un jour sur deux (Verlag, 2005) y  (Phinter-Heel, 1993). Ces injections ont été administrées  pendant  deux  semaines,  ce  qui  donne  un  total  de  sept  injections.  Au  troisième  groupe, dénommé TCI Citronelle, a été appliqué à chaque traite, deux fois par jour, durant les deux semaines qu'a duré l'expérience, un traitement topique, dissolu à 1% avec un mélange contenant 50% d'huile essentielle de  citronelle  et  50%  de  savon  potassique  (Martins,  2006),  (Martins,  R.M.;  González,  F.H.D.,  2007)  y   (Labrador, J.,Porcuna, J.L., Reyes, J.L., 2004). Au quatrième groupe, dénommé TCIT Citronelle + Thymol (n=10), a été administré, de même qu'au groupe précedent, le traitement topique à base de Citronelle. En outre,  de la teinture mère de Thymol, à une teneur de 1 %,  a été ajoutée  afin de renforcer l'action acaricide de ce traitement (Bidarte, A., Garcia, C., Irazabal. J.F., 2003). Les résultats ainsi obtenus ont été analysés à l'aide du programme de test statistique ANOVA  afin d'évaluer l'amélioration des lésions. A la Options Méditerranéennes, A(orB) XX, 2009   fin  de  l'expérience,  les  brebis  ayant  reçu  les  traitements  TCI  ou  TCIT  présentaient  des  lésions significativement moindres, P<0.05, en comparaison avec le groupe témoin et le groupe TAH. Toutefois, ces  deux  derniers  ne  présentaient  pas  de  différences.  Dès  le  début  de  l'expérience,  le  degré d'amélioration a été majeur, P<0.05, dans les groupes ayant subi le traitement TCI ou le traitement TCIT: les taux d'amélioration ont atteint, respectivement, 45 et 48% alors que celui du groupe témoin n'a atteint que 3%. Le groupe qui a reçu le traitement TAH a, quant à lui, atteint un taux d'amélioration de 30%. Les groupes TCI et TCIT n'ont présenté aucune différence significative. Pour conclure, le traitement à base de d'huile essentielle de citronnelle de Java et de savon potassique peut être utilisé comme un traitement alternatif au traitement conventionnel de la gale psoroptique.    Mots-clés: brebis- gale- huiles essentielles - homéopathie. Introduction:    In recent years ecological production has evolved continuously, increasing annually by 20% from 1996, occupying over one million hectares and employing 25,000 people in Spain in 2008.  As a result, new management  and  treatment  practices  that  correspond  with  the  philosophy  and  regulations  of  certified ecological  production  are  being  developed.    Ectoparasitic  infections  are  usually  a  serious  problem  on ecological farms (Thamsborg, et al., 2003), though farmers are authorised to use allopathic substances once a year for the control of parasites (RD, 2009).  In England, for example, synthetic pyrethroids and macrocyclic lactones  are  permitted  for the control  of  ectoparasitosis  (McLean,  et  al.,  2003).  However, treatment based on alternative medicine is advantageous because it does not leave residues in animals.   No conclusive results have been obtained in previous experiments using homeopathic remedies in sheep (Bidarte,et  al.,  2003,  2004,  2007)  and  (Verlag,  2005).Nevertheless,  essentials  oils  have  been  used successfully to control parasitic mites (Sanchez, 2003) in Iberian ham and Varroasis in honey bees (Higes, 1996).   The following experiment was carried out to replace allopathic treatment used on conventional production farms by other methods, and to evaluate the efficacy of each test treatment.   Materials and Methods  Treatment: Three alternative treatments, TAH (Antihomotoxic), TCI (Java Citronella), TCIT (TCI+ Thymol) were used in the experiment.  A fourth group, TC, was kept as the control and did not receive any treatment.  The experiment lasted two weeks and controls of the process were carried out at three times, days 0, 7 and 14.  The control group (TC) was formed by 9 sheep.  Treatment  TAH  (n=10)  consisted  of  intramuscular  administration  of  an  injection  of  a  mixture  of  three preparations:  1.1 cc. Psorino HeelÒ (Psorinum D10, Medorrhinum D12, Sulfur D6, Thuja D6, Bufo D10, Natrium chloratum D12, Vaccinium D8, Bismutum kalium D5, Oleander D4, Cicuta virosa D5, Bacilinum D12),  1.1 cc Schewef  HeelÒ ( Sulfur D4, Sulfur D6, sulfur D12, Sulfur D30, Sulfur D200) and 2.2 cc Cutis HeelÒ(Cutis suis D8, Hepar suis D10, Splen suis D10, Placenta suis D10, Glandula suprarenalis suis D10, Funiculus umbilicalis suis D10, Thuja D8, Galium aparine D6, Sellenium D10, Thalium sulfuricum D13, Ignatia D6, Sulfur D10, Corsisonumaceticumtum D13, Mercurius solubilis Hahnemanni D13, Aesculus D6, Ichthyolum D28, Ledum D4, Arctium lappa D6, Acidumformicicum D198, Acidum α-ketoglutaricum D10, Acidumfumaricum D10, Natrium axalaceticum D10).  The choice of products was based on the indications of  (Verlag,  2005)  and  (Phinter-Heel,  1993).    A  total  of  7  injections  were  administered  throughout  the experiment, one every 48 h.    Treatment TCI (n=10) consisted of applying a topical solution of 50% essential Java Citronella oil and 50% potassium soap in each milking for two weeks, that is a total of 30 applications, according to references in (Martins, 2006) and (Martins, et al., 2007) for Citronella and in (Labrador, et al., 2004) for potassium soap.   Options Méditerranéennes, A(orB) XX, 2009   Treatment TCIT  (n=10) was applied in the same way as the previously-mentioned one, but 1% Thymol mother tincture was added to the solution to enhance its acaricidal activity, as suggested by (Bidarte, et al., 2003).  Evaluation of the lesions: A linear scale of 1 to 9 nine was used to subjectively evaluate the extent and severity of the lesions.  Three controls were carried out (on days 0, 7 and 14). Scores were given by two veterinarians according to the size and depth of the lesion.   Statistical analysis: Statistical analysis of the results was by the SAS program (2007). An ANOVA with one variation factor, treatment, was carried out.  The dependent variables were scores and improvement of the lesions.  The latter variable is the difference in scores between the different control days.    Results and Discussion.  Effect of treatment on the psoroptic mange outbreak. Table 1 shows the characteristics of the scores variable on each control day. An overall decrease in lesions is observed, the score being 5.48 at the start of the test and 3.78 at the end.  With regard to variability  of  the lesions,  the  score  was  normal  on  day  0  and  increased  noticeably  by  the  end of  the experiment, probably due to the efficacy of the different treatments.   Table 1: Basic statistics of the scores. Control day  Mean  D.T.  Minimum  Maximum  C V. Day 0  5.48  1.68  2  9  33.93 Day 7  4.53  2.12  1  8  46.90 Day 14  3.78  2.34  0  9  61.91  The  analysis  of  variance  for  the  scores  given  to  the  lesion  was  significant  in  the  three  stages  of  the experiment, even on day 0 before treatment had started. Table 2 shows a comparison of the means at each stage.  Although the sheep were randomly assigned to each group, we found significant differences between TAH and  TCI  and  TCIT  on  day  0,  when  treatment  had  not  yet  started.    These  differences  were  due  to randomisation.  Table 2: Comparison of the means of the treatment effect for the scores variable, depending on the control day. Treatment  N Means ± ee Day 0  Day 7  Day 14 TC  9 6.00±0.53 a.b  5.55±0.60 a  5.61±0.62 a TAH  10 6.70±0.53 a  5.70±0.60 a  4.70±0.62 a TCI  10 4.70±0.53 b  3.70±0.60 b  2.60±0.62 b TCIT  10 4.60±0.53 b  3.30±0.63 b  2.40±0.65 b Different letters correspond to different groups Options Méditerranéennes, A(orB) XX, 2009   The  mean  score  on  days  7  and  14  shows  statistically  significant  differences  between  two  treatment groups.  Group  TCI  and  TCIT  in  comparison  with  TC  and  TAH;  no  significant  differences  were  found between treatments in the same group. Treatment with Citronella (TCI and TCIT) is apparently effective as the score decreased from 4.65 to 2.5 in the two-week period. If we compare these treatments with the control group, significant differences can be observed.  However, these differences were already present at  the  start  of  the  experiment,  which  makes  their  interpretation  difficult.    As  for  TAH,  there  were  no differences when compared with the control, either at the start or end of treatment.  To interpret these results we will study the improvement of the lesions in comparison with when treatment started.  The results of the comparison of the means with the improvement variable can be seen in table 3.  During the first week, significant differences were only observed between the groups (TCI and TCIT) and the control group, a difference of 1.40 and 0.90 points in improvement, respectively, being obtained.    During the second week, we found significant differences in all the treatments applied, in comparison with the control group and no statistically significant differences between the 3 treatments. TAH obtained an improvement of 1.00 in comparison with the control, TCI 0.90 and TCIT obtained the highest difference of all the groups, with a score of 1.10.   A study of overall improvement between days 0 and 14 revealed significant differences between all the treatments and the control group.  However, the most noticeable difference was observed for TCI, with a score of 2.30.   Table 3: Comparison of the means of the treatment effect for the improvement of lesions variable,  according to the control day. Treatment  N Means ± ee Day 0-7  Day 7-14  Day 0-14 TC  9  0.44±0.22 b  -0.05±0.23b  0.38±0.33 b TAH  10  1.00±0.22 a,b  1.00±0.23  2.00±0.33 a TCI  10  1.40±0.22 a  0.90±0.23 a  2.30±0.33 a TCIT  10  0.90±0.22 a  1.10±0.23 a  2.00±0.335 a     Treatment  with  Java  Citronella  and  Potassium  Soap  was  effective  in  controlling  this  psoroptic  mange outbreak as it obtained the best response.  Results have been obtained against ticks and the general control of ectoparasites when this treatment was applied to the dorsal area in cows (Martins, et al., 2007).  No significant differences were observed between TCI and TCIT,  with added Thymol, although it was effective in comparison with the control group.  In view of this result, the use of TCIT is not recommended.  The treatment in injectable form (TAH) obtained significant differences from the second week and had a similar result to the other treatments.  We verified that the supposed action of Psorino HeelÒ, Schewef  HeelÒ  and  Cutis  HeelÒ  proposed  by  (Verlag,  2005)  and  (Phinter-Heel,  1993)  obtained  a  significant response in controlling a psoroptic mange outbreak in sheep.  Nevertheless, generalised treatment in large animal populations is not easy as each animal has to be treated several times and this is very costly. Conclusions. Treatment with Java Citronella oil and Potassium Soap obtained the best result in comparison with the other treatments applied, as better recovery from dermal lesions was observed.  This is the treatment of choice because apart from the results obtained, it is easy to apply and economical.  This result shows that there is an alternative to the use of allopathic products for controlling ectoparasites, which although permitted by current regulations, are more costly and harmful to the environment and also produce residues.    Options Méditerranéennes, A(orB) XX, 2009   Acknowledgments: To the collaboration, committment and enthusiasm of Alonso Santos de Pedro, Josefina Alfonso and Miguel Santos.  References:  Bidarte, A., García, C. (2007). Fichas prácticas de medicamentos naturales para la ganadería ecológica.  Bidarte, A., Garcia, C., Irazabal. J.F. (2003). Tratamientos antiparasitarios en ganadería ecológica. Madrid: Agricola Española. Bidarte, A.,García, C. (2004). Homeopatía ovina y caprina. Madrid: Agricola Española. Higes, M. L. (1996). Ensayo de la eficacia del Timol en el control de la verrooasis de Apis Mellifera en colmenas en produccion. II Congreso de la Sociedad Española de Agricultura Ecológica, (págs. 205-210). Pamplona. Labrador, J.,Porcuna, J.L., Reyes, J.L. (2004). Conocimientos, técnicas y productos para la agricultura y la ganadería ecológica. Valencia: Juana Labrador Moreno. Martins, R. M. (2006). Estudio in vitro de la acción acaricida del aceite esencial de la gramínea Citronela de Java (Cymbopogon winterianus Jowitt) en la garrapata Boophilus microplus. Rev. Bras. Pl. Med.,Botucatu, v.8, n.2, , 71-78. Martins, R.M.; González, F.H.D. (2007). Uso del aceite de citronela de Java (Cymbopogon winterianus Jowitt) (Panicoidideae) como acaricida frente a la garrapata Boophilus microplus Canestrini (Acari:Ixodidae). Rev. Bras. Pl. Med., Botucatu, v.9, n.4 , 1-8. McLean, B.,Frost, D. (2003). Controlling Ectoparasites on Welsh Organic Sheep Farms. Ceredigion: Organic Centre Wales. Phinter-Heel. (1993). Vademécum de medicina veterinaria. Baden-Baden: Phinter-Heel. RD, C. (. (2009). REGLAMENTO (CE) NO 834/2007 DEL CONSEJO de 28 de junio de 2007 sobre producción y etiquetado de los productos ecológicos y por el que se deroga el Reglamento (CEE) no 2092/91. Sanchez Lopez, J. (2003). Control de ácaros contaminantes del jamón Ibérico. Caceres: Tesis doctoral. Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Extremadura. SAS. 2007. SAS/STAT User's Guide (Release 9.01). SAS Inst. Inc., Cary NC, USA. Thamsborg, S.M., Roepstorff, A. (2003). Parasite problems in organic livestock and options for control. Journal of Parasitology 89 , 277-284. Verlag, A. (2005). Ordinatio Antihomotoxica et Materia Medica. Baden-Baden: Aurelia Verlag GmbH.   

Alternative treatments in the control of psoroptic mange in a flock of organic production sheep.

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

Organic Eprints