Influence of dietary mannan oligosaccharide and clinoptilolite on hematological, biochemical and gut histological parameters in weaned pigs

Abstract

Background and Purpose: Yeast derivative mannan oligosaccharide (MOS) and zeolite clinoptilolite (CPL) well known nutritional supplements acting as either prebiotic or immunobiotic, respectively, in animal husbandry. The aim of this study was to investigate whether or not these agents referred to as potential alternatives to antibiotics may positively influence systemic immune parameters of weaned pigs without negatively affecting their hematological, serum biochemical and gut histological homeostasis.

Materials and Methods: Sixty pigs from a commercial farm were divided into three groups comprising 20 pigs each and treated at 4 weeks of age as follows: controls received standard weaner diet, whereas diet for principals was supplemented with 0.2% of MOS or 0.5% of CPL. The experiment was conducted throughout 35 days and at either Day 7 or Day 35 intervals starting at Day 0 before the treatments hematological, serum biochemical and intestinal histopathological parameters were monitored, respectively.

Results: Pigs fed CPL supplement had lower proportion of lymphocytes (P<0.05), but higher proportions of neutrophils and eosinophils (P<0.05) at Day 21. Neither MOS nor CPL affected values of hematological parameters. Serum levels of hepatic enzymes in pigs fed CPL supplemen, with exception of lower value of creatinine kinase (CK) at Day 35 (P<0.01) were not changed. These pigs had lower level of total proteins (P<0.05) at Day 28, but higher levels of urea (P<0.05) and creatinine (P<0.01) at Day 35. Generally, principal pigs had milder damages of villi, similar infiltration of lymphoid/myeloid cells within jejunal/ileal lamina propria and follicular hyperplasia in mesenterc lymph node, but more extensive proliferation within Peyer’s patches. 

Conclusions: MOS did not affect any of monitored parameters, and CPL only sporadically induced lymphopaenia and granulocytosis, decrease of CK and total proteins and increase of urea and creatinine levels, indicating that the agents were not associated with any harmful side effects on monitored blood and gut parameters and impairment in general health status of pigs.