Experimental study on the effect of in-feed administration of a clinoptilolite-rich tuff on certain biochemical and hematological parameters of growing and fattening pigs

Abstract

The effect of the long-term dietary use of a clinoptilolite-rich tuff (Cp) on certain biochemical and hematological parameters was studied in pigs. Forty-eight healthy piglets (24 females and 24 males) were used in the study, equally allocated in two experimental groups, depending on the inclusion or not of Cp in their feed (Cp+ and Cp− groups respectively). Cp was incorporated in their feed at the inclusion rate of 2% and was administered continuously from weaning to slaughter. All pigs were individually weighed upon commencement of the study [25(± 3) days of age] and subsequently at the end of the weaning, growing and fattening stages [70(± 3), 112(± 3) and 161(± 3) days of age, respectively] and blood sample collections were performed for analyses. Cp ingestion was well tolerated and resulted in a higher body weight gain during the weaning stage, as well as during the whole monitoring period (P b 0.05). The diet had no effect on serum K, Na, Ca, P, total protein, albumin and total bilirubin concentrations throughout the study (P N 0.05). Furthermore, no significant alteration was noticed concerning the hematocrit, leucocyte count and hemoglobin concentration (P N 0.05). Conversely, the dietary inclusion of Cp resulted in a lower serum urea-N and cholesterol concentrations in all blood samplings apart from the initial one (P b 0.05). Likewise, Cp+ group demonstrated an elevated serum glucose concentration at the blood samplings performed on 112(± 3) and 161(± 3) days of age and a lower AST activity at the latter (P b 0.05). In the context of this study, the long-term dietary use of Cp at the inclusion rate of 2% appeared to enhance the performance of growing and fattening pigs without adversely affecting their health status in terms of undesirable changes of their biochemical and hematological profiles.

EFFECTS OF DIETARY ZEOLITE LEVELS ON SOME BLOOD PARAMETERS OF GILTHEAD SEABREAM (Sparus aurata) JUVENILES

“…There was no significant clear trend in selected electrolytes in response to increasing dietary zeolite, being consistent with the reports from terrestrial animals (Alexopoulos et al, 2007;Demirel et al, 2011). However, Khodanazary et al (2013) reported that dietary zeolite addition increased blood Ca and K levels, decreased Na concentrations and did not change Mg levels in common carp.…”

The effect of kaolin feeding on efficiency, health status and course of diarrhoeal infections caused by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli strains in weaned piglets

“…These studies documented that even long-term feeding did not affect levels of total serum protein, albumin and mineral elements in pigs Alexopoulos et al, 2007). Some studies have reported changes in glucose, cholesterol and AST levels (ConcepcionRosabal et al, 1997;Alexopoulos et al, 2007;Prvulovic et al, 2007). The present study did not find any changes in Fe distribution and haematological parameters in piglets.…”

“…The structure and physical-chemical characteristics of these clay minerals and kaolin, which is a phyllosilicate mineral, are similar . A significant increase in the body weight gain and improved conversion of feed containing clay minerals has been shown by numerous studies (Pond et al, 1981(Pond et al, , 1988Vrzgula et al, 1982;Bartko et al, 1983;Pond and Yen, 1987;Castro and Iglesias, 1989;Cabezas et al, 1991;Papaioannou et al, 2004;Chen et al, 2005;Kolacz et al, 2005;Papaioannou et al, 2005;Alexopoulos et al, 2007;Prvulovic et al, 2007). Naturally, their effect on the efficiency of animals is associated with the type, physicochemical and structural qualities, purity and proportion of these minerals in the diet (Pond and Yen, 1987;Pond et al, 1988;Papaioannou et al, 2004Papaioannou et al, , 2005, and by the age of animals (Papaioannou et al, 2004;Alexopoulos et al, 2007).…”

“…Other studies dealing with clinoptilolite feeding to pigs failed to find any changes in haematological parameters (hematocrit, erythrocyte and leukocyte counts, haemoglobin, differential blood picture; Vrzgula et al, 1982;Alexopoulos et al, 2007). The ion-exchange properties and adsorption capacity of clay minerals are above all affected by particle size in different types of soils, crystallite size and the degree of aggregation as well as by the porosity of different particles Alexopoulos et al, 2007). These properties and the amount of a clay mineral added to the diet influence the final binding effect of the clay-based adsorbent in the animal or human organism.…”

“…These results were in agreement with similar studies focused on the feeding of clay minerals to pigs. These studies documented that even long-term feeding did not affect levels of total serum protein, albumin and mineral elements in pigs Alexopoulos et al, 2007). Some studies have reported changes in glucose, cholesterol and AST levels (ConcepcionRosabal et al, 1997;Alexopoulos et al, 2007;Prvulovic et al, 2007).…”