THE USE OF AN AQUEOUS SOLUTION IN THE PREPARATION OF A MEDICAMENT FOR USE IN THE TREATMENT OF LIVE ANIMALS

Abstract: This invention relates to a composition for use in the treatment of pathogenic microorganisms in a live animal, the composition comprising an electro-chemically activated, anion-containing aqueous solution.

Description: THE USE OF AN AQUEOUS SOLUTION IN THE PREPARATION OF A MEDICAMENT FOR USE IN THE TREATMENT OF LIVE ANIMALS Field of the Invention : This invention relates to the use of an aqueous solution in the preparation of a medicament for use in the treatment of live animals. Background to the Invention : For the purposes of this specification, the term "animal" should be construed to include within its meaning sheep, cattle, goats, pigs, chickens, ostriches, reptiles and the like; the term "disease" should be construed to include within its meaning diarrhoea; the term pathogen should be construed to include within its meaning micro-organisms such as E-coli; and the term "medicament" should be construed to include within its meaning oral bactericides and bactericidal inhalants. The Applicant envisages that the invention will be applicable particularly, but not exclusively, in the preparation of a medicament for use in the treatment of pathogenic micro-organisms in weaner piglets and chicklets. The presence of antibiotic residues in food products lead to allergic and anaphylactic reactions in humans. The development of resistant strains of micro-organisms makes anti-microbials ineffective. Object of the Invention ; It is accordingly an object of the mvention to provide inexpensive, novel and a l ternative anti-microbials that overcome the above disadvanta ges. In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, there is provided the use of a composition in the preparation of a medicament for use in the treatment of pathogenic micro-organisms in a live animal, the composition comprising an electro-chemically activated anion-containing aqueous solution. In accordance with a second aspect of the invention there is provided a composition in the preparation of a medicament for the treatment of pathogenic micro-organisms in live animals, the composition comprising an electro-chemically activated anion-containing aqueous solution, the composition substantially as herein defined. In accordance with a third aspect of the invention there is provided a method of treating pathogenic micro-organisms in a live animal, the method including the step of administering a dosage of a composition comprising an electro-chemically activated anion-containing aqueous solution to the animal, the anion-containing aqueous solution being substantially as herein defined. The anion-containing aqueous solution may be prepared by means of electrolysis of an aqueous solution of a salt. The salt may be sodium chloride. In particular, it may be non-iodated sodium chloride or potassium chloride. The anion-containing solution and the associated cation-containing solution may be produced by an electro-chemical reactor or so-called electrolysis device. The electro-chemical reactor may include a through flow, electro-chemical cell having two co-axial cylindrical electrodes with a co-axial diaphragm between the electrodes so as to separate an annular inter electrode space into a catalytic and an analytic chamber. The anion-containing solution is referred to hereinafter for brevity as the "anolyte solution" and the cation-containing solution is referred to hereinafter for brevity as the "catholyte solution". The anolyte solution may be produced from an aqueous NaCl solution, electrolysed to produce radical cation and radical anion species, the anolyte solution having a redox potential up to about + 600 mV to + 800 mV. These species may be labile and after about 96 hours, the various radical species may disappear with no residues being produced. The anolyte solution may have a pH of about 6,5 to 7,5. The anolyte solution may include species such as CIO; CIO " ; HCIO; OH " ; H0 2 - ; H 2 0 2 ; 0 3 ; These species have been found to have a synergistic anti-bacterial and/or anti¬ viral effect which is generally stronger than that of chemical bactericides and has been found to be particularly effective against viral organisms and spore and cyst forming bacteria. The redox potential of the anolyte solution may be monitored during the process so that the treatment process may be monitored and controlled on a continuous basis. The catholyte solution generally may have a pH of up to about 12-13 and a redox potential of about -980 mV. The catholyte solution may include species such as NaOH; KOH; CA(OH) 2 ; Mg (OH) 2 ; HO " ; H 3 O 2 - ; HO 2 - ; H 2 0 2 -; O 2 - ; OH " ; O 2 2 - . The method of treatment may include administering the anolyte solution by soaking, rinsing or dipping the animal in the anolyte solution, applying the anolyte solution as an inhalant via an atomising or fogging process or administering the anolyte solution orally. The soaking, rinsing or dipping process is suitable for animals which can be handled with relative ease. The processes of atomising or fogging and oral administration by addition to drinking water are both suitable for animals such as weaner piglets and chicklets which are susceptible to stress and accompanying weight loss. The atomising or fogging process may include the step of atomising the solution into the atmosphere in a volume to be treated, forming droplets of between 5 and 100 micrometre. The method may include the preliminary step of enclosing the volume to be treated prior to atomising or fogging the enclosed volume. The atomising or fogging process is preferably conducted at pre-determined intervals so as to maintain a suitable level of anolyte concentration in the atmosphere, thus utilising the optimum microcidal and other properties of the anolyte solution in accordance with the required administration rate. The anolyte solution may also be applied by an atomising process in air ducting systems to destroy air-bome micro-organisms and to destroy micro¬ organisms present in the airways and lung tissue by inhalation. The treatment of the animal as described above may be conducted so as to improve the weight gain as a result of the anti-microbial action of the anolyte solution. The oxidising-free radicals present in the anolyte solution may act synergistically at a bacterial cellular level. The anolyte solution may have a specific anion concentration and distribution and a redox potential in accordance with the specific application. The pathogenic micro-organisms to be treated may include enteric pathogenic micro-organisms and respiratory pathogenic micro-organisms. Detailed Description of the Invention : A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying experiments. In a series of experiments, the bactericidal effect of the anolyte solution was tested on animals. The results are reflected in the tables below. An electro-chemical reactor, including a through flow, electro-chemical cell having two co-axial cylindrical electrodes with a co-axial diaphragm between them so as to separate an annular inter-electrode space into a catalytic and an analytic chamber, was used to produce anolyte and catholyte solutions. Experiment 1 - Weaner Piglets The anolyte solution was added to the drinking water of the weaner piglets over a period of 14 days and the results were measured in terms of average weight after the 14 day period. The average weight of the administered groups were compared with the average weight of the unadministered groups. The administered groups showed relative weight gain relative to the unadministered groups. The relative weight gains of the administered groups are reflected in Table 1 below. Experiment 2 - Broilers (Chicklets) Day old broilers were administered with anolyte solution (10% diluted) by addition to drinking water for 7 days. (Group C3 - 12 000 chicklets). No antibiotic medication was administered during that time. Untreated control groups (Cl, C2, C4 and C5 = total 48 000 chicklets) received normal drinking water during that time. The untreated groups were routinely medicated with Tylosin for 3 consecutive days. Bacterial analyses of the drinking water of all groups were regularly conducted during the first 7 days. Other measurements included daily mortalities and morbidities throughout and pH and ORP determinations of the drinking water during the first 7 days. All results are reflected in Table 2 below. Medication of drinking water with anolyte solution supplied to day-old chicklets for the first period resulted in a significant reduction in mortalities throughout the growth and finishing period. Mortalities increased in all the groups from the 4th week onwards mainly due to respiratory disease. It is envisaged that these could be reduced by fogging the environment with anolyte solution to eliminate airborne respiratory pathogens by means of respiratory intake. It has been found that the efficacy of the use of the anolyte solution in the treatment of live animals depends upon the concentration of the anions in the anolyte solution, as measured by the oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) or redox potential of the anolyte solution, the flow rate through the reactor, the exposure time, i.e. the contact time between the contaminated animal and the anolyte solution and the temperature during application. By measuring the redox potential of the anolyte solution during the treatment, for example, of a weaner piglet, the available free radical concentration can be monitored. Anolyte solution has been found to be more effective at lower than at higher temperatures. It will be appreciated that many variations in detail are possible without departing from the scope and/or spirit of the invention as claimed in the claims hereinafter.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. The use of a composition in the preparation of a medicament for use in the treatment of pathogenic micro-organisms in a live animal, the composition comprising an electro-chemically activated, anion- containing aqueous solution. 2. A composition for the preparation of a medicament for the treatment of pathogenic micro-organisms in live animals, the composition comprising an electro-chemically activated anion-containing aqueous solution. 3. A method of treating pathogenic micro-organisms in a live animal, the method including the step of administering a dosage of a composition comprising an electro-chemically activated anion-containing aqueous solution to the animal 4. A composition as claimed in claim 2 wherein the anion-containing aqueous solution is prepared by means of electrolysis of an aqueous solution of a salt. A composition as claimed in claim 2 wherein the anion-containing solution is produced by an electro-chemical reactor, the electro-chemical reactor including a through flow, electro-chemical cell having two co¬ axial cylindrical electrodes with a co-axial diaphragm between the electrodes so as to separate an annular inter electrode space into a catalytic and an analytic chamber. 6. A composition as claimed in claim 2 wherein the anion containing aqueous solution has a redox potential up to about ÷600 mV and 800 mV and a pH of about 6,5 to 7,5. 7. A method of treatment as claimed in claim 3 including at least one of the steps of administering the solution by soaking, rinsing or dipping the animal in the solution, applying the solution as an inhalant via an atomising or fogging process, and administering the solution orally. 8. A method as claimed in claim 7 wherein the atomising or fogging process includes the step of atomising the solution into the atmosphere in a volume to be treated, forming droplets of between 5 and 100 micrometre..

Inventors: HINZE GILBERT THEO, HINZE, GILBERT, THEO
Applicants: DAVIS JOANNE T, HINZE GILBERT THEO, MOISEL EKKEHARD WALTER, DAVIS, JOANNE, T., HINZE, GILBERT, THEO, MOISEL, EKKEHARD, WALTER
Application year: 1998
Main classification: A61K33
IPC codes: A61K33