SELENIUM-ARSENIC INTERACTION IN THE WEANLING PIG

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Abstract
Twenty 3-wk-old weanling piglets were fed supplemental selenium (Se) (0, 0.1 ppm) and supplemental arsenic (As) (0, 100 ppm) in a 2 × 2 factorial design for 6 wk. A significant As × Se interaction effect was observed on weight gain and feed consumption but not feed:gain ratio. Arsenic supplementation reduced weight gain and feed consumption in pigs receiving Se but had no effect on Se-deficient pigs. Hematocrit, hemoglobin and whole blood Fe concentrations were not significantly affected by dietary As or Se. Spleen, liver, muscle, kidney and fecal samples from As-supplemented animals had significantly higher As concentrations than control animals. Plasma protein concentration was significantly decreased in As-supplemented pigs. A significant As × Se interaction indicated that the effect of As supplementation had a greater effect on plasma protein with low dietary Se conditions than when dietary Se is adequate. Plasma glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity was significantly affected by Se and there was an As × Se interaction effect. Arsenic supplementation enhanced the enzyme activity in pigs receiving Se. However, enzyme levels were lower in pigs receiving the Se-deficient diet supplemented with As compared with pigs receiving only Se-deficient diets. Arsenic appears to intensify an adequacy or deficiency of Se when measured by GSH-Px activity. Key words: Selenium, arsenic, piglet, weaners, trace mineral, interaction
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