OXIDATIVE STATUS AND ACUTE PHASE RESPONSE OF SOWS DURING TRANSITION PERIOD

Abstract

The present study was conducted in pregnant sows to evaluate the oxidative status and inflammatory markers during the transition period. Blood samples were collected from sows on the days -30, -10, -3, 0, +3, and +10 of farrowing. Markers of oxidative status such as malondialdehyde (MDA), lipid hydroperoxides (LHP), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and C- reactive protein (CRP) were evaluated. Lipid hydroperoxide levels significantly increased, while TAC and GSH levels significantly decreased on days 0 and +3 compared to day -30 of farrowing. The highest activity of SOD was observed on day -10, while GST activity was at its peak on day 0. Before farrowing, glutathione peroxidase was the active peroxidase enzyme; catalase was more active after farrowing. C-reactive protein (CRP) levels increased significantly during the transition period compared to day -30 of farrowing. Depleted levels of antioxidant molecules after farrowing emphasize the significance of antioxidant supplementation to maintain the increased antioxidant enzyme activity. Elevated serum CRP levels during the transition period indicate the risk of development of metabolic disturbances like mastitis, metritis, and agalactia in transition sows.

Keywords

• oxidative stress markers
• antioxidant status
• antioxidant enzyme activities
• inflammatory marker
• transition period
• sows