Immune status of piglets during the first week of life: Current knowledge, significance and assessment – a review

Abstract

The immune system of neonate piglets differs from adult pigs in structure and competence. Although piglets are born immunocompetent, they are genuinely immunologically defenceless. To survive in the environment, piglets need passive protection provided by sow’s colostrum and milk when constantly exposed to numerous pathogens. Early assessment of piglets’ immune status may enable rapid intervention in case of detection of any deficiencies or disorders. Moreover, awareness of the piglets’ immunocompetence and the level of maternally-derived antibodies (MDA) may allow the creation of a proper vaccine schedule. Hence, extending knowledge of prenatal ontogeny of the porcine immune system, the immune status of neonate piglets’ and the immunological components of porcine colostrum is crucial. Since animal welfare has become a more critical element of animal production, new, non-invasive sampling methodologies are highly desirable for the evaluation of piglets’ immune status.

Concentrations of selected immunological parameters in the serum and processing fluid of suckling piglets and the serum and colostrum of their mothers

“…This statement, however, needs more studies on a larger population of animals. No correlation between the level of IgA in the PF, as well as serum collected from both genders of piglets vs. colostrum, was observed, which is interesting because most of the colostral IgA is produced locally in the mammary gland, and a lesser part is of serum origin [6]. This phenomenon may result from different times of taking samples.…”

“…The decrease in the level of IgA is less drastic compared to IgG, and IgA is the predominant Ig of porcine milk [12,14]. Moreover, more than 50% of IgA originates from the mammary gland; meanwhile, almost 100% of IgG is of serum origin [6]. The most prevalent Ig of PF was IgG, which IgA followed.…”

“…PF usually consists of blood and tissue fluids recovered from castrated testicles and docked tails during piglet processing (3-5 days of age) [5]. The abovementioned processing procedures are routinely performed on many pig farms worldwide [6]. Thus, collecting such samples does not require additional effort and does not generate excessive stress for piglets.…”

Nutritional and Antioxidative Benefits of Dietary Macroalgae Supplementation in Weaned Piglets

“…In piglets, the weaning period, characterized by high stress levels, is a critical phase leading to decreased immunity and, consequently, increased susceptibility to disease factors [48]. During this period, there is reduced feed intake and decreased utilization of dietary nutrients, resulting in lowered production performance and higher mortality rates [49].…”

Enhancing nutrient digestibility and antioxidant efficacy in piglets: The impact of fermented rapeseed meal supplementation on biochemical parameters and oxidative stress markers

“…The stimulation of immune processes is associated with the presence of bacteria or fungi used for fermentation, akin to the action of probiotics, i.e., beneficial bacteria colonizing the intestines. Their presence is crucial for the immune system, supporting immunologic barrier and neutralizing free radicals, thus protecting cells from oxidative stress (Wang et al, 2022), which is essential for young piglets (Augustyniak et al, 2023). Regulating the immune response and positively impacting antioxidative processes, fermented components may additionally effectively protect young organism from pathogens (Yan et al, 2022), potentially reducing the use of pharmaceuticals or therapeutic doses of zinc oxide.…”