Abstract
Selenium is an essential trace element important for many physiological processes, especially for the functions of immune and reproductive systems, metabolism of thyroid hormones, as well as antioxidant defense. Selenium deficiency is usually manifested by an increased incidence of retention of placenta, metritis, mastitis, aborts, lowering fertility and increased susceptibility to infections. In calves, lambs and kids, the selenium deficiency demonstrates by WMD (white muscle disease), in foals and donkey foals, it is associated with incidence of WMD and yellow fat disease, and in pigs it causes VESD (vitamin E/selenium deficiency) syndrome. The prevention of these health disorders can be achieved by an adequate selenium supplementation to the diet. The review summarizes the survey of knowledge on selenium, its biological significance in the organism, the impact of its deficiency in mammalian livestock (comparison of ruminants vs. non-ruminants, herbivore vs. omnivore) and possibilities of its peroral administration. The databases employed were as follows: Web of Science, PubMed, MEDLINE and Google Scholar.
Highlights
Selenium is important for the regulation of immunity functions [82], plays an essential role in non-specific immune response [83] and its low level is related to weakened immune system [84]
The methodology of the choice used scientific studies from more than 2500 viewed articles based on the search phrases, such as: physiological effects of selenium, antioxidant/antibacterial/anticancer effect of selenium, selenium and oxidative stress/Staphylococcus aureus/immunity/thyroid hormones/reproduction, fertility/milk/rumen fermentation/gastrointestinal tract, glutathione peroxidase, epigenetic effects of selenium, selenium status analysis, selenium and analytical methods, selenium and cattle/sheep/goats/pigs/horses/donkeys; and the main findings of various studies were compared
Selenium deficiency leads to glutathione peroxidase (GPx) enzyme activity decreasing and the drop in neutrophil activity [86] as well as the cells becoming more susceptible to oxidative damage
Summary
This review is focused on the biochemical and molecular genetic nature of selenium, on its physiological effects in mammalian livestock, on the possibilities of determining its status in the organism and on the importance of its additon to animals. The methodology of the choice used scientific studies from more than 2500 viewed articles based on the search phrases, such as: physiological effects of selenium, antioxidant/antibacterial/anticancer effect of selenium, selenium and oxidative stress/Staphylococcus aureus/immunity/thyroid hormones/reproduction, fertility/milk/rumen fermentation/gastrointestinal tract, glutathione peroxidase, epigenetic effects of selenium, selenium status analysis, selenium and analytical methods, selenium and cattle/sheep/goats/pigs/horses/donkeys; and the main findings of various studies were compared
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