SummaryThe relationship between a phenotype of transferrin (Tf) and ceruloplasmin (Cp) and the frequency of diarrhoea oecurrence was analysed in 317 piglets. It was observed that diarrhoea caused by haemolytic Escherichia coli strains including K88 ab and K88 ac occurred with greater frequency in piglets with phenotypes Tf AB and Cp AB than in piglets with phenotypes Tf BB and Cp BB. It is believed that Polymorphie type of Tf A and Cp A is related with piglets susceptibility to colibacteriosis which is caused by strains E. coli K88 ab and K88 ac.

The relationship between CRP gene (1271 G/A, 3’UTR) polymorphism and the serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), total cholesterol (Ch-T) and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-ch) was analysed in suckling crossbred [Polish Large White × Polish Landrace (♀) × × Duroc × Pietrain (♂)] piglets. CRP genotypes were identified by PCR-RFLP with Hinfi restriction enzyme. The levels of CRP, Ch-T, HDL-ch and white blood cell (WBC) counts were determined in blood samples collected from younger (21±3 days of age) and older piglets (35±3 days of age). There was a relationship between CRP gene (1271 G/A, 3’UTR) polymorphism and variations in the serum levels of CRP in piglets with normal WBC counts. The above relationship did not manifest itself in piglets with elevated WBC counts. The studied genotypes differed in their response to elevated WBC counts, and the noted differences were more pronounced in older piglets. The response of genotypes with weak CRP expression caused an increase in CRP levels and a decrease in the serum concentrations of Ch-T and HDL-ch. Such a response was not observed in the genotype with strong CRP expression.

Abstract. The effect of transferrin (TF) polymorphism and the levels of some blood serum indices, functionally linked to this protein, were studied. The following determinations were made in the blood serum of 311 hybrid suckling piglets - TF polymorphism, TIBC (total iron binding capacity), TF iron saturation percentage and levels of iron ceruloplasmin (CP) and copper. Clinically healthy piglets and piglets with diarrhoea caused by E. coli were divided into younger (aged 10 to 14 days) and older (aged 15 to 28 days). The piglets showed two genotypes, TF AB and TF BB. The TF BB genotype dominated among clinically healthy piglets, and the TF AB genotype in those suffering from diarrhoea. TF polymorphism differentiated the levels of CP and copper in clinically healthy piglets, and modified iron concentration and TF iron saturation percentage in piglets with diarrhoea. Regardless of health status, age had an almost identical effect on the levels of blood serum indices in piglets of both genotypes. The differences in the levels of CP, iron, and TF iron saturation percentage in healthy piglets and piglets with diarrhoea were modified by the presence of the TFA allele, but in older piglets only.

The relationship between PcR-restriction fragment length polymorphism in RNASE1 (296 A/G), ANG (149 G/T) and RNASE6 (389 C/T) genes and the values of haematological and biochemical blood indices was analysed in crossbred suckling piglets (n = 473), aged 21 ± 3 days (younger, n = 274) and 35 ± 3 days (older, n = 199), descending from Polish Large White × Polish Landrace sows and Duroc × Pietrain boars. The observed distribution of all genotypes was consistent with the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Anaemia was more common in younger piglets with RNASE1 GA genotype but in the blood of older GA piglets a higher count and percentage of granulocytes were noted. This could be related to the destruction of erythrocytes in younger piglets and enhanced host defence in older ones. ANG gene polymorphism was associated with the severity of iron deficiency in younger piglets. This is supposed to be linked with the different ability to protect immune cells against suppression and degradation during iron deficiency. in older piglets, this mutation differentiated the reactivity of the immune system. Varying levels of iron status and red blood cell indices in RNASE6 genotypes presumably resulted from the coupling of genes involved in iron metabolism and expressed in an age-dependent manner.