Effect of Supplementation of Different Sources of Selenium on Humoral Immunity in Guinea Pigs

A total of 40 male guinea pigs (462.0 ± 9.3 g body weight) were divided into four equal groups and fed a basal diet consisting of concentrate mixture (ground maize grain (30.5%), Bengal gram (25%), wheat bran (24%), soya bean meal (18%), mineral mixture (2%; without selenium (Se)), common salt (0.5%) and ascorbic acid (0.05%)) and 10-20 g of available green fodder. While group 1 was fed basal diet alone, without any Se supplementation, groups 2, 3 and 4 were supplemented with 150 ppb of Se, as nano-Se, sodium selenite and organic Se, respectively, for 70 days. Results revealed that the serum Se levels significantly (P<0.001) increased in all the Se-supplemented groups compared with the control group, with highest level in group 2 supplemented with nano-Se. The standard tube agglutination test showed that the serum antibody titre was significantly (P<0.001) higher in all the Se-supplemented groups compared with the control group, with highest level in group 2 supplemented with nano-Se. It was concluded that supplementation of 150 ppb Se, either as inorganic salt, or in the organic or the nano form, in the basal diet significantly enhanced the serum Se levels and the immune response in the guinea pigs, with the highest response observed in the nano-Se group.