MycoRant

Now here is an interesting  idea. Treat cows suffering from bovine tuberculosis (bTB) with mushroom extracts. There seems to be little (no) actual evidence this might work, but what the heck.

A company called RPF Bioscience has a product called Myco Formula 5 which is touted as a treatment for bTB. RPF Bioscience is one of several divisions of Red Pig Farm (that’s the RPF part) that are involved in mycological pursuits. The company is based in Wales, UK. The other divisions are Humungus-Fungus (mushroom growers–web link broken) and Fruiting Bodies (this division markets mushroom extracts). With respect to Myco Formula 5, according to the company website:

Researchers at RPF BioScience have uncovered sufficient evidence to warrant the testing of a unique blend of mushroom compounds, fortified with vitamin and minerals, which can be delivered to cattle once a year in the form of a bolus. Detailed discussions have taken place with the Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA) and test parameters have been discussed. Phase one testing will determine the actions of these compounds against bovine TB, and phase two will see the product being tested in field-scale trials throughout the UK.

Due to the commercial sensitivity of this work and restrictions put in place by the EC in relation to product claims, etc, the publication of data will be limited. However, results of testing and frequent press releases will be posted on this site and we would encourage visitors to bookmark this page in order to monitor the progress being made.

We’ll definitely keep an eye out for those press releases, since as everyone knows, press releases are  a reliable and trustworthy source of medical and veterinary product information (cough, cough). In the mean time, it’s probably a good thing that the EC (European Commission) has “restrictions put in place in relation to product claims.”

RPF Bioscience President Richard Edwards discussed the company’s aims in an interview, Why use mushrooms to tackle TB? All the questions answered published at Farmers Weekly Interactive. When asked if there was any evidence to support the notion that mushrooms might be efficacious in treating bTB he responded thusly. “…I cannot provide references as this is the crux of our hypothesis, which is the crux of the business. We have no evidence of how the mushrooms work with cattle, other than discussions with world experts, which would indicate our hypothesis is worth testing.”

The cows are pulling for you Richard.

"Shrooms, I need shrooms!" (Hamed Saber/Flickr)

Tags: bovine TB, bTB, mushroom extracts, RPF Bioscience