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Effect of Selenium Yeast Supplementation on Naturally Acquired Parasitic Infection in Ewes

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Abstract

Gastrointestinal parasites cause substantial economic losses in pasture-based sheep production systems. Supranutritional organic selenium (Se) supplementation may be beneficial because it improves immune responses to pathogens. To evaluate the effect of Se-yeast supplementation on gastrointestinal parasite load, 30 ewes per treatment group were drenched weekly with no Se, 4.9 mg Se/week as Se yeast (maximum FDA-allowed concentration), or supranutritional concentrations of Se yeast (14.7 and 24.5 mg Se/week) starting early fall for 85 weeks. Fecal samples were collected at weeks 63, 66, 78, and 84 and counted for total trichostrongyle-type eggs and Haemonchus contortus eggs (in samples with ≥200 trichostrongyle eggs/g feces). During breeding season (fall), ewes were kept on pasture; ewes receiving 24.5 mg Se/week had lower fecal trichostrongyle egg counts (93 ± 40 eggs/g feces) compared with ewes receiving no Se (537 ± 257 eggs/g feces; P = 0.007) or ewes receiving 4.9 mg Se/week as Se yeast (398 ± 208 eggs/g feces; P = 0.03). In winter, fecal trichostrongyle egg counts decreased, and group differences were not apparent. During lambing season (spring), ewes were kept in the barn and fecal trichostrongyle egg counts increased, although no group differences were observed. However, none of the ewes receiving supranutritional Se yeast, and with trichostrongyle egg counts ≥200 eggs/g of feces, but four of the ewes receiving lower Se dosages had H. contortus egg counts ≥1,000 eggs/g feces (P = 0.04). Our results suggest that supranutritional Se-yeast supplementation may enhance resistance to naturally occurring H. contortus gastrointestinal parasitism in sheep.

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Abbreviations

GI:

Gastrointestinal

FDA:

Food and Drug Administration

ICP-MS:

Ionized coupled plasma mass spectrometry

IQR:

Interquartile range

PBS:

Phosphate-buffered saline

Se:

Selenium

WB:

Whole blood

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Acknowledgments

Funded in part by USDA CSREES 2008-35204-04624, Agricultural Research Foundation, and Animal Health and Disease Project Formula Funds, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR. Appreciation is expressed to the College of Veterinary Medicine, class of 2012 students enrolled in the parasitology course for their technical assistance collecting fecal samples and performing fecal egg counts for parasites. Appreciation is also expressed to T. Nichols, M.L. Galbraith, A.M. Harwell, and W.C. Stewart (all from Oregon State University, Corvallis) for their technical assistance during the conduct of these experiments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oregon State University, Dryden Hall 206, Corvallis, OR, 97331-4802, USA

    Kathryn J. Hooper, William R. Vorachek, Janell K. Bishop-Stewart, Michael L. Kent & Jean A. Hall

  2. Department of Animal and Rangeland Sciences, College of Agriculture, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, 97331-4802, USA

    Gerd Bobe, Wayne D. Mosher & Gene J. Pirelli

  3. Linus Pauling Institute, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, 97331-4802, USA

    Gerd Bobe

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  1. Kathryn J. Hooper
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  2. Gerd Bobe
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Correspondence to Jean A. Hall.

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Hooper, K.J., Bobe, G., Vorachek, W.R. et al. Effect of Selenium Yeast Supplementation on Naturally Acquired Parasitic Infection in Ewes. Biol Trace Elem Res 161, 308–317 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-014-0134-1

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