title: Haptoglobin serum concentration is a suitable biomarker to assess the efficacy of a feed additive in pigs.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: 1Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular i Servei de Bioquímica Clínica Veterinària, Facultat de Veterinària, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Saco
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fraile
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giménez
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pato
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Montoya
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bassols