Evaluation of Therapeutic Potential of Certain Homeopathic Preparations in Canine Atopic Dermatitis
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Date
2018-08-17
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U.P. Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Pashu-Chikitsa Vigyan Vishwavidyalaya Evam Go Anusandhan Sansthan, (DUVASU), Mathura – 281001
Abstract
Canine atopic dermatitis (CAD) in dogs is a multifactorial geneticallypredisposed inflammatory and pruritic skin disease with characteristic clinical features
that is associated with IgE antibodies. A dysregulation of cutaneous immune system
which favours an acute T-lymphocyte helper type-2 (Th2) pro-inflammatory reaction
to allergens has recently been documented. The release of many pro-inflammatory
cytokines after allergen exposure is now considered to be the key to the allergic
response. Glucocorticoids (GCs) (prednisone, prednisolone, methylprednisolone) are
considered to be the first line of sole therapy to manage CAD. However, GCs have
potential detrimental side effects on the health of treated dogs and are not considered
to be safe on prolong use. The dog-owning public is now more interested in “natural”
and “alternative” methods of disease management. Albeit, homeopathic preparations
are being used as alternative medicines since long, the scientific validation of their
efficacy and mechanism of action in animal’s skin diseases is still in infancy. Hence,
the present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of homeopathic preparations for
clinical recovery and immuno-regulatory potential in dogs with AD. The dogs with
atopic dermatitis were allocated into four groups of six dogs in each one. Dogs of
Group 1 were treated with prednisolone; Group 2 were treated with Sulphur 200 C;
Group 3 were treated with Psorinum 200 C and Group 4 were treated with the
combination Sulphur 200C and Psorinum 200 C. All homeopathic medicines were
given at a dose rate of 3-5 drops, three times in a day orally for 60 days. Dogs with
AD revealed remarkable alterations in the leukograms in comparison to healthy
controls. Remarkable elevations in circulatory inflammatory cytokines (IL-17 and IL31) and total Ig-E levels were observed in dogs with AD. Atopic dogs treated with
prednisolone and Psorinum + Sulphur revealed significantly amelioration of the
altered haemato-biochemical panels. Similarly, these dogs also found to have
significant reduction in circulatory pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-17 & IL-31) and
Ig-E levels at day 60 post-therapy as compared with their own day 0. Marked
reduction in clinical scores (CADLI and VAS) of atopic dermatitis were revealed by
the atopic dogs when treated with Sulphur alone and in combination with Psorinum at
days 30 and 60 post-therapy as compared with day 0 scores. No adverse effects were
observed in any of the homeopathy treated dogs. Therefore, it can be concluded that
dogs with AD have a marked alterations in leukograms with eosinophilia. Remarkable
elevation in circulatory pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-17 and IL-31) and Ig-E might
be associated with immuno-pathogenesis of canine atopic dermatitis. Combination of
Psorinum 200 C and Sulphur 200 C could be a novel potent therapeutic agent for
management of CAD. These preparations also have potential to heal the skin lesions
of dogs with AD and have almost equivalent therapeutic potential to that of standard
glucocorticoid. The homeopathic preparations; Psorinum 200 C and Sulphur 200C
are quite safe and superior over prednisolone for long term therapy and have excellent
potential to ameliorate the immunological aberration of dogs with AD and can cure
the dermatological lesions of AD from the root in diseased dogs.
Description
Evaluation of Therapeutic Potential of Certain Homeopathic Preparations in Canine Atopic Dermatitis