Toxicosis in Pigs Fed Selenium-Accumulating Astragalus Plant Species or Sodium Selenate
August 1989
in “
American Journal of Veterinary Research
”
New to Selenium? There is a guide in the encyclopedia. Read the guide → Studysummary In this study, high selenium diets from different sources caused weight and hair loss in pigs, with additional hoof and coronary band problems particularly in those fed sodium selenate. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.
The study investigated the effects of high selenium diets on pigs, using Astragalus praelongus, A bisulcatus, and sodium selenate as selenium sources. Each group consisted of 5 pigs, with 10 control pigs on a low selenium diet. Over 9 weeks, all selenium-fed pigs exhibited weight and hair loss, with additional symptoms like cracked hooves and inflamed coronary bands in sodium selenate-fed pigs. Blood tests showed increased serum aspartate transaminase activities in Astragalus-fed pigs, and changes in other enzyme activities across all selenium-fed groups. Selenium concentrations in tissues and fluids were significantly higher in treated pigs compared to controls. All selenium-fed pigs developed poliomalacia of the spinal cord and brain stem, with the increase in AST activity in Astragalus-fed pigs linked to swainsonine in the plants.
