title: Effect of a biostimulatory homeopathic complex on venom production in captive rattlesnakes (Crotalus durissus).
abstract: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of two administration methods of a biostimulatory homeopathic complex (Convert H®) on the production of fresh and lyophilized venom of rattlesnakes (Crotalus durissus) under intensive captivity conditions. Sixty snakes were subjected to treatment following a randomized block design. The effects of sex and size were controlled for. Thirteen consecutive extractions were performed over 21 months. The first factor considered in the experiment was the origin of mice used as prey: a conventional colony (A1) or the Convert H colony (A2; mice receiving the homeopathic complex in water at 1%). The type of water given to snakes was the second factor: pure (B1) or amended with 5% of Convert H®(B2). The experiment was structured in a factorial 2 × 2 design combining mouse and water types (A1B1, A1B2, A2B1, and A2B2). No consistent treatment effects on fresh venom production (mL) were observed when the experimental groups were compared with controls (A1B1). However, production of lyophilized venom (mg) was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in A2B2 animals than in controls in eight of 13 extractions performed, and also in aggregate. The results revealed that production of lyophilized venom, measured over multiple extractions, can be increased by administering the homeopathic complex simultaneously to rattlesnakes and prey.
authors.affiliation: Programa de Mestrado em Ciência Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Av. Senador Filinto Muller, 2443, Caixa Postal 549, Campo Grande, MS 79070-900, Brazil; Biotério, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Av. Tamandaré, 6000, Campo Grande, MS 79117-900, Brazil.
authors.forename: Paula Helena
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Santa Rita
authors.affiliation: Biotério, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Av. Tamandaré, 6000, Campo Grande, MS 79117-900, Brazil.
authors.forename: Herbert Patric Kellermann
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Cleveland
authors.affiliation: Biotério, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Av. Tamandaré, 6000, Campo Grande, MS 79117-900, Brazil.
authors.forename: Paula Laryssa Souza
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.affiliation: Biotério, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Av. Tamandaré, 6000, Campo Grande, MS 79117-900, Brazil.
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Corrêa
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Av. Senador Filinto Muller, 2443, Caixa Postal 549, Campo Grande, MS 79070-900, Brazil.
authors.forename: Valter Joost
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Van Onselen
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Av. Senador Filinto Muller, 2443, Caixa Postal 549, Campo Grande, MS 79070-900, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ruy Alberto Caetano
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Corrêa Filho
authors.affiliation: Biotério, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Av. Senador Filinto Muller, 1555, Campo Grande, MS 79074-460, Brazil. Electronic address: maria.teixeira@ufms.br.
authors.forename: Maria Araújo
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Teixeira
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003435:Crotalid Venoms / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D017839:Crotalus; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary; D060766:Drinking Water; D005260:Female; D005612:Freeze Drying; D006705:Homeopathy; D008297:Male; D008419:Materia Medica / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D051379:Mice; D011897:Random Allocation
chemical_list: D003435:Crotalid Venoms; D060766:Drinking Water; D008419:Materia Medica
keywords: Convert H(®); Crotalus durissus; Fresh venom; Lyophilized venom