Effects of a Natural Polyphenolic Product from Olive Mill Wastewater on Oxidative Stress and Post-Weaning Diarrhea in Piglets
Georgios I. Papakonstantinou,
Eleftherios Meletis,
Konstantinos Petrotos,
Polychronis Kostoulas,
Nikolaos Tsekouras,
Maria C. Kantere,
Nikolaos Voulgarakis,
Dimitrios Gougoulis,
Leonidas Filippopoulos,
Georgios Christodoulopoulos,
Labrini V. Athanasiou,
Vasileios G. Papatsiros
Affiliations
Georgios I. Papakonstantinou
Clinic of Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, Trikalon 224, 43100 Karditsa, Greece
Eleftherios Meletis
Faculty of Public and Integrated Health, University of Thessaly, 43100 Karditsa, Greece
Konstantinos Petrotos
Department of Agrotechnology, School of Agricultural Sciences, University of Thessaly, Geopolis Campus, Periferiaki Odos Larisas Trikalon, 41500 Larisa, Greece
Polychronis Kostoulas
Faculty of Public and Integrated Health, University of Thessaly, 43100 Karditsa, Greece
Nikolaos Tsekouras
Clinic of Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, Trikalon 224, 43100 Karditsa, Greece
Maria C. Kantere
Clinic of Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, Trikalon 224, 43100 Karditsa, Greece
Nikolaos Voulgarakis
Clinic of Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, Trikalon 224, 43100 Karditsa, Greece
Dimitrios Gougoulis
Clinic of Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, Trikalon 224, 43100 Karditsa, Greece
Leonidas Filippopoulos
Hipra Hellas SA, 10441 Athens, Greece
Georgios Christodoulopoulos
Department of Animal Science, Agricultural University of Athens, 75 Iera Odos Street, Botanikos, 11855 Athens, Greece
Labrini V. Athanasiou
Clinic of Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, Trikalon 224, 43100 Karditsa, Greece
Vasileios G. Papatsiros
Clinic of Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, Trikalon 224, 43100 Karditsa, Greece
The present study aimed to investigate the effects of a commercial phytogenic feed additive (PFA) on the prevention of post-weaning diarrhea and oxidative stress in piglets. The concentrations of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and protein carbonyls (CARBS) were investigated as biomarkers for oxidative damage, as were the health and performance parameters of weaned piglets. In total, 100 weaned piglets were divided into two groups: a control group (T1), which was fed regular weaning feed; an experimental group (T2), which was fed regular weaning feed supplemented with a phenolic feed additive (PFA) for 3 weeks. The TBARS and CARBS concentrations in plasma samples from 20 piglets per group were measured at 45 and 65 days of age. Fecal samples were collected from 24 weaned piglets per group using FTA ELUTE cards. Diarrhea score, body weight (BW) at weaning, and average daily weight gain (ADWG) were recorded. The TBARS (p p = 0.001) concentrations were significantly higher in the T1 group compared to those in the T2 group. The lowest diarrhea score was noted in the T2 group for the age groups of 45 (p p = 0.008). In conclusion, the use of a phenolic PFA in the current study had beneficial antioxidative and antimicrobial effects on weaned piglets, which improved their health and growth performance.
