This study was performed to evaluate the effect of maternal supplementation with seaweed powder (SWP) on the immune status of piglets. Sows were supplementary fed SWP from 85-days of gestation until delactation. Forty-days old piglets were euthanized and lymphocyte subsets were analyzed. The results showed a significantly higher relative population of CD4+CD8+ T cells in the thymus, lymph node, tonsil (P<0.05), peripheral blood mononuclear cells, spleen and liver (P<0.01) of piglets derived from treated sows. A higher relative population of CD8+ T cells was also observed in the liver and spleen (P<0.05) of the piglets. The data suggested the enhancing effects of maternal supplementation with SWP on immune status of piglets.
Keywords: lymphocyte subset; maternal supplementation; piglet; seaweed powder.