Swine dysentery: the influence of dietary vitamin E and selenium on the clinical and pathological effects of Treponema hyodysenteriae infection in pigs

Vitamin E and selenium plasma concentrations in weanling pigs under field conditions in Norwegian pig herds

“…The most important consideration may be whether marginal vit E and Se levels around weaning affect the disease resistance in the pigs. Vit E and Se deficient pigs may have impaired immune responses [5,25], and have been shown to be more susceptible to swine dysentery [4]. Weaning is a critical time for the young pigs, and post-weaning diarrhoea and other weaning-related diseases are important health problems.…”

“…Because vit E and Se status have been shown to influence immunological functions and disease resistance in pigs [4,5], these observations have attracted considerable attention in the pig industry. The fall in vit E has been related to low activity of carboxylester hydrolase enzymes in the gut of weanling pigs [6].…”

Vitamin E and Immune Response in the Aged

“…Decreased mortality and lesion scores from Histomonas melacardis infection were also reported in turkeys supplemented with 500 IU/kg vitamin E [Schildknecht and Squibb, 1979]. Vitamin E-deficient pigs [Teige et al, 1978] had higher mortality and more pronounced clinical pathology from experimentallyinduced swine dysentery than those receiving adequate levels of vitamin E. Furthermore, vitamin E supplementation in pigs was shown to increase resistance against E. coli [Ellis and Vorhies, 1986] and Treponema hydysenteriae [Teige et al, 1982]. Increased resistance to chlamydia in sheep and lambs by vitamin E was also reported [Stephens et al, 1979, Nockels, 1979.…”

Estimates of heritability for selenium and glutathione peroxidase levels in pigs

“…Furthermore, Se seems to be an important trace element for optimal immune response and disease resistance (TEIGE et al 1982;TEIGE et al 1984;BRUN 1986;KKUSE and POULSEN 1987; LARSEN et a]. 1988).…”