Berberine alkaloids in the prevention and/or treatment of intestinal disease

Abstract

This invention relates to berberine alkaloids, formulations thereof and their use for the prevention and/or treatment of infectious disease, especially disease caused by C. perfringens and Eimeria in animals. The invention also relates to improving the feed conversion ratio in a food producing animal by administering berberine compositions.

1 . A method for the prevention and/or treatment of an infectious disease in a chicken, wherein the method comprises administering a berberine alkaloid thereof to the chicken, wherein the infectious disease is caused by bacteria from the genus  Clostridium.    
     
     
         2 .- 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the infectious disease is caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria from the genus  Clostridium.    
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the infectious disease is Necrotic enteritis. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the Necrotic enteritis is caused by a  C. perfringens  type A strain,  C. perfringens  type A strain EHE-NE36,  C. perfringens  type A strain EHE-NE18, or a  C. perfringens  type C strain. 
     
     
         16 .- 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the administration occurs via the feed or water of the chicken. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the feed is the form of a crumble or a pellet. 
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the berberine alkaloid is administered at a dose of 0.001 g/kg to 2 g/kg of feed or; at a dose of 0.001 g/L to 0.1 g/L of water. 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein (i) lesion score is decreased and/or the fecal oocyst count in the chicken is reduced; (ii) there is a reduction in morbidity; or (iii) there is a reduction in mortality. 
     
     
         25 .- 26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein: (i) there is a safe residue level of the berberine alkaloid in the muscle tissue of the chicken after the prevention and/or treatment period; (ii) there is a safe residue level of the berberine alkaloid in the muscle tissue of the chicken after the treatment period and a washout period; (iii) there is a safe residue level of the berberine alkaloid in the liver and muscle tissue of the chicken after the treatment period; or (iv) there is a safe residue level of the berberine alkaloid in the liver and muscle tissue of the chicken after the treatment period and a washout period; or (v) there is a safe residue level of the berberine alkaloid in the liver tissue of the chicken after the treatment period and a washout period. 
     
     
         28 .- 69 . (canceled) 
     
     
         70 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the berberine alkaloid is berberine hemisulfate. 
     
     
         71 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the berberine alkaloid is berberine chloride. 
     
     
         72 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising an additive that masks a bitter flavour of the berberine alkaloid. 
     
     
         73 .- 91 . (canceled) 
     
     
         92 . The method according to claim  2 , wherein the antibiotic-resistant bacteria are  C. perfringens.