Haptoglobin serum concentration is a suitable biomarker to assess the efficacy of a feed additive in pigs

• Published in: Animal (Cambridge, England) Vol. 4; no. 9; pp. 1561 - 1567
• Main Authors: Saco, Y., Fraile, L., Giménez, M., Pato, R., Montoya, M., Bassols, A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press 01.09.2010; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: acute phase proteins; Behaviour, welfare and health; biomarkers; blood chemistry; body weight; feed additives; haptoglobins; health status; immunomodulators; interleukin-1; interleukin-6; liveweight gain; phytosterols; Suid herpesvirus 1; swine; swine feeding; vaccination; Spain; acute phase proteins, feed additive, Aujeszky vaccine, swine
• ISSN: 1751-7311; 1751-732X
• DOI: 10.1017/S1751731109991418

Levels of haptoglobin and Pig-major acute phase protein (MAP) were analysed in animals from a commercial herd receiving or not a diet enriched with an additive. The group receiving the additive exhibited a decrease in haptoglobin after 3 weeks, suggesting that a better health status has been established, together with an improvement in total body weight and average daily gain. In contrast, Pig-MAP does not significantly change under these conditions. Aujeszky live modified vaccination, which is compulsory in Spain, did cause a significant increment in haptoglobin serum concentration although it did not affect Pig-MAP. The response of acute phase proteins to vaccination was similar in both control and additive-treated groups. Interleukins (IL)-1β and IL-6 was below the detection limits in most of the animals. In conclusion, this study shows that haptoglobin serum concentration, but not Pig-MAP, is a good biomarker to monitorize production parameters and for monitoring Aujeszky modified live vaccine in pigs reared under standard commercial conditions.