Two experiments were conducted on broiler chickens to compare the effect of a new organic Se source, 2-hydroxy-4-methylselenobutanoic acid (HMSeBA; SO), with two practical Se additives, sodium selenite (SS) and Se yeast (SY). The relative bioavailability of the different Se sources was compared on muscle ( pectoralis major) total Se, selenomethionine (SeMet) and selenocysteine (SeCys) concentrations and apparent digestibility of total Se (AD Se ). In the first experiment, from day (d) 0 to d21, Se sources were tested at different supplied levels and compared with an unsupplemented diet (NC). No significant effects were observed on growth performance during the experimental period. However, the different Se sources and levels improved muscle Se concentration compared with the NC, with a significant source effect in the following order: SS , SY , SO (P,0·05). Seleno-amino acids speciation results for NC, SY and SO at 0·3 mg Se/kg feed indicated that muscle Se was only present as SeMet or SeCys, showing a full conversion of Se by the bird. The second experiment (d0 -d24) compared SS, SY or SO at 0·3 mg Se/kg feed. The AD Se measurements carried out between d20 and d23 were 24, 46 and 49 % for SS, SY and SO, respectively, with significant differences between the organic and mineral Se sources (P,0·05). These results confirmed the higher bioavailability of organic Se sources compared with the mineral source and demonstrated a significantly better efficiency of HMSeBA compared with SY for muscle Se enrichment.

A B S T R A C TSelenium is an essential nutrient for poultry and pigs, and is important for a number of physiological processes including regulation and function of the immune system. Through its incorporation into selenoproteins, Se is involved in the regulation of oxidative stress, redox mechanisms, and other crucial cellular processes involved in innate and adaptive immune response.This review provides current knowledge on the mechanisms by which selenium can modulate the resilience to infectious diseases, and how this micronutrient can influence the capacity of the bird or the pig to maintain its productivity during an infectious challenge. In relation to the most frequent and economically important infectious diseases in poultry and pig production, the present paper considers the influence of different selenium sources (organic vs. inorganic Se) as well as dietary concentrations on the immune responses of poultry and pigs with major emphasis on the potential beneficial impact on animal resilience to common infectious diseases.

A new organic selenium compound, 2-hydroxy-4-methylselenobutanoic acid (SeO), displayed a greater bioavailability than sodium selenite (SeNa) or seleno-yeast (SeY) in several species. This study sought to determine the regulation of the speciation of selenium, expression of selenogenome and selenocysteine biosynthesis and degradation-related genes, and production of selenoproteins by the 3 forms of selenium in the tissues of broiler chicks. Day-old male chicks ( = 6 cages/diet, 6 chicks/cage) were fed a selenium-deficient, corn and soy-based diet [base diet (BD), 0.05 mg Se/kg] or the BD + SeNa, SeY, or SeO at 0.2 mg Se/kg for 6 wk. Plasma, livers, and pectoral and thigh muscles were collected at weeks 3 and 6 to assay for total selenium, selenomethionine, selenocysteine, redox status, and selected genes, proteins, and enzymes. Although both SeY and SeO produced greater concentrations ( < 0.05) of total selenium (20-172%) and of selenomethionine (≤15-fold) in the liver, pectoral muscle, and thigh than those of SeNa, SeO further raised ( < 0.05) these concentrations by 13-37% and 43-87%, respectively, compared with SeY. Compared with the BD, only SeO enhanced ( 0.05) the mRNA of () and () in the liver and thigh (62-98%) and thioredoxin reductase (TXRND) activity in the pectoral and thigh muscles (20-37%) at week 3. Furthermore, SeO increased ( 0.05) the expression of () , GPX4, SELENOP, and SELENOU relative to the SeNa group by 26-207%, and the expression of, GPX4, and SELENOP relative to the SeY group by 23-55% in various tissues. Compared with SeNa or SeY, SeO demonstrated a unique ability to enrich selenomethionine and total selenium depositions, to induce the early expression of and mRNA and TXRND activity, and to enhance the protein production of GPX4, SELENOP, and SELENOU in the tissues of chicks.

Two experiments were conducted in broiler chickens to compare the effect of different Se sources on Se tissue enrichment: sodium selenite (SS), seleno-yeast (SY), and a new organic Se source (SO) containing 2-hydroxy-4-methylselenobutanoic acid (HMSeBA) as an active substance. For each experiment, treatments differed only in source or dose of Se additive. Relative efficiency was compared by plasma and tissue [muscle (pectoralis major) and liver] total Se concentrations. The first experiment compared Se sources (SS, SY, and SO) at different concentrations (mg of Se/kg of feed; SS-0.3; SY-0.1 and -0.3; SO-0.1 and -0.3; and a negative control, 0) in broilers between 0 and 42 d of age. Plasma, liver, and muscle Se concentrations were improved by all Se sources at both d 21 and 42 compared with the negative control group. Between Se sources, minor differences were observed for plasma and liver results, whereas a significant dose effect was observed from 0.1 to 0.3 mg of Se/kg of feed (P < 0.05) for each source. Muscle Se concentrations were improved such as SO > SY > SS (P < 0.05). Moreover, the relative muscle Se enrichment comparison, using linear regression slope ratio, indicated an average of 1.48-fold (95% CI 1.38, 1.58) higher Se deposition in muscle for SO compared with SY. In the second experiment, excessive dietary doses of 5 mg of Se/kg of feed from SS and SO showed a lower deleterious effect of SO on BW and feed intake in comparison with standard Se doses (P < 0.05). Seleno amino acid measurements conducted on different tissues of animals fed SO at 0.5 mg/kg of feed showed that HMSeBA is fully converted into selenomethionine and selenocysteine. These results of both experiments demonstrate the higher relative bioavailability of SO compared with SS and SY as determined through tissue Se enrichment.

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