Az Echinacea purpurea hatékonyságának vizsgálata nyulak P. multocida fertőzésében

Abstract

SUMMARY The authors studied the disease preventive effect of Echinacea purpurea (Purple coneflower) powder in Pasteurella multocida challenged New Zealand White rabbits. It is substantial to prevent pasteurellosis which causes significant economic losses. Preliminary immunization is partly effective under field conditions, furthermore prophylactic or metaphylactic use of antibacterials is contraindicated in rabbits due to their adverse effects on the rabbit coecal microbiota, and the possibility of emerging antimicrobial resistance. In this trial thirty-five rabbits were randomly divided into five groups of seven animals. Four groups were inoculated with a mixture of ten Pasteurella multocida isolates intranasally (in.) and intramuscularly (im.), mimicking serious infection, the controls remained uninfected. The challenged groups received orally low and high dose of Echinacea purpurea powder (10 and 100 mg/kg bw.), enrofloxacin (10 mg/kg bw.) and placebo. Only enrofloxacin treatment could prevent death. Application of Echinacea did not facilitate survival; furthermore pathological findings in these groups were similar to infected controls. Consequently, administration of Echinacea purpurea powder against Pasteurella multocida infection is not recommended either prophylaxis or treatment. Presumably the immunstimulating effect of Echinacea may occur in case of mild pasteurellosis, however this requires further investigations.