Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Hungarian propolis fights antimicrobial resistance in cats and cattle
By Kerek, Ádám et al.·Published in Frontiers in veterinary science·2025·Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Antimicrobial resistance and natural alternatives:efficacy of Hungarian propolis against feline and bovine.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A study found that a natural substance called propolis, made by bees, showed effectiveness against a parasite that can cause gastrointestinal and reproductive issues in both cats and cattle. When tested, propolis had a minimum lethal concentration of 1.25 mg/mL for cat strains, while traditional medication, ronidazole, was less effective against these feline strains due to some resistance. In contrast, propolis worked well against cattle strains, which remained susceptible to both treatments. This suggests that propolis could be a promising alternative for treating infections in animals, especially where conventional medications are restricted.
People also search for: cat gastrointestinal parasite treatment · natural remedies for cat infections · propolis for cats · ronidazole resistance in cats
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a critical One Health challenge affecting both human and animal health., a protozoan parasite causing reproductive and gastrointestinal disorders in cattle and cats, presents a growing threat due to limited treatment options. While nitroimidazoles such as ronidazole remain the standard of care, their use is restricted in food-producing animals and associated with emerging resistance in feline strains. Propolis, a complex natural resin produced by bees, has demonstrated antimicrobial and antiparasitic activity in other protozoan infections. METHODS: Thisstudy assessed the minimum lethal concentrations (MLC) of ethanolic propolis tincture from the Észak-Alföld region of Hungary against feline- and bovine-derivedstrains, compared to four nitroimidazoles. RESULTS: Propolis showed promising activity, with an MLC of 1.25 mg/ mL for feline isolates and 0.16 mg/mL for bovine isolates after 48 h. Ronidazole demonstrated reduced efficacy against feline isolates (MLC 32 μg/mL), suggesting partial resistance, whereas bovine isolates remained susceptible (MLC 1 μg/mL). DISCUSSION: Our findings highlight propolis as a potential alternative treatment for, particularly in cattle where nitroimidazole use is prohibited. Standardizing propolis tincture and conductingstudies will be essential to translate these results into clinical applications. This study contributes to efforts to combat AMR and develop sustainable, natural therapeutic alternatives in veterinary medicine, aligning with One Health principles.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41321584/