title: The therapeutic effect of Tarentula cubensis extract (Theranekron®) in foot-and-mouth disease in cattle: a randomised trial in an endemic setting.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a contagious viral disease of ruminant animals. Eradication of disease in western countries is by slaughter of infected and in contact animals but this is not possible in endemic countries. There is no standard treatment for FMD in endemic countries, but anti-inflammatory drugs and mild disinfectant and protective dressing to inflamed areas to prevent secondary infection is recommended.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomised controlled clinical trial of a homeopathic preparation of Tarentula cubensis (Theranekron®) was conducted during an outbreak of FMD in cattle in Iran. A single subcutaneous injection of Theranekron® was used as sole treatment in 50 infected animals (treatment group). The control group comprised 15 infected animals treated with standard medication including: daily injection of flunixin meglumine and oxytetracycline and daily dressing of lesions with 4% sodium carbonate. Systemic and local signs were recorded over 14 days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Rectal temperature in treatment group subsided to normal range within 1 day of homeopathic treatment, and was significantly lower in test group than in control group on several successive days (P < 0.05). Healing of inflamed mucosal areas and appetite score of the treatment was significantly better than control during first 3 days of treatment (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It appears that Theranekron® is effective for treatment of systemic and local signs of FMD-infected cattle. Further research is justified.
authors: Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran. samadlzadeh@ut.ac.ir
authors: Samad
authors: S
authors: Lotfollahzadeh
authors: Mohammad Reza
authors: MR
authors: Alizadeh
authors: Mehrdad
authors: M
authors: Mohri
authors: Mohammad Reza
authors: MR
authors: Mokhber Dezfouli
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000187:drug effects; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005536:Foot-and-Mouth Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006705:Homeopathy / Q000379:methods*; D010727:Phosphoric Diester Hydrolases / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013111:Spider Venoms / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D013111:Spider Venoms; C055161:loxosceles venom; D010727:Phosphoric Diester Hydrolases