Therapeutic Efficiency of Gleptoferron and Iron Dextran on Iron-Deficient Anemia in Piglets

What is Gleptoferron?

Gleptoferron is a sterile colloidal aqueous solution of β-iron hydroxide and dextran glucoheptanoic acid for the prevention of iron deficiency anaemia in young pigs. Its structural formula is shown below:

Gleptoferron is usually available as an injection for intramuscular use only. The usual dose is 1 mL (200 mg iron) per pig. Not for use in humans.

Therapeutic Efficiency of Gleptoferron and Iron Dextran on Iron-Deficient Anemia in Piglets

The therapeutic efficiency of gleptoferron and irno dextran for iron deficient anemic piglets was investigated using 24 animals weighning approximetly 9 kg. An iron-deficient diet(33 ppm) was given to 18 experimental piglets. Six control piglets were fed this diet with addition of 200 ppm ferrous fumarate. On the 21st day of experiment, the experimental piglets were divided equally into three groups, an untreated, a gleptoferron (Fe-200 mg)added and an iron dextran (Fe-200 mg)-added. Blood samples were obtained from the anterior vena cava at one-week intervals. Red blood cell conut (RBC), hematocrit (Ht), hemoglobin concentration(Hb), serum iron concentration (SI) and serum ferritin concentration (Fr) decreased linearly and the clinical signs of iron deficiency appeared in the experimental animals, but not in the controls. After the gleptoferron administration, RBC, Hb and Fr increased rapidly. RBC, Hb, SI and Fr were remarkable higher in value in the gleptoferron than in the untreated group. After the iron dextran administration, RBC and Hb increased, but the elevation of Ht and SI was not so evident as after the gleptoferron administration. It was demonstrated that gleptoferron was more efficient than iron dextran in iron absorption and utilization.

Other therapeutic effects of Gleptoferron

The efficacy and safety of an injectable combination product containing toltrazuril and gleptoferron (Forceris® – CEVA) for the control of coccidiosis due to Cystoisospora suis was investigated in neonatal piglets. The study was carried out on five European commercial pig farms in France, Germany and Spain and 122 litters consisting of 1508 piglets were selected and randomly allocated to one of two treatment groups. The first group received a single intramuscular injection per piglet of the test product, containing 45 mg toltrazuril and 200 mg iron and this was compared with a control group, which was administered a single intramuscular treatment of iron at 200 mg per piglet only. Body weights, faecal scores and oocysts counts, recorded as oocysts per gram of faeces, (OPG) were observed for 21 days. Only 1138 piglets were actually exposed to coccidiosis and data sets of these animals were selected for statistical analysis. The efficacy of the test product in the control of coccidiosis was shown in higher body weight gains, a lower percentage of animals with diarrhoea, fewer samples with positive oocysts counts as well as a lower excretion peak and a reduced area under the curve of OPG from study day (SD) 4 – SD 21. The combination product of toltrazuril and gleptoferron provided an effective alternative approach to current conventional separate treatment for the prevention of iron deficiency anaemia and coccidiosis in neonatal piglets. It reduced the numbers of potentially stressful interventions and work time.

References

[1] YAMADA Y. Therapeutic Efficiency of Gleptoferron and Iron Dextran on Iron-Deficient Anemia in Piglets[J]. Journal of the Japan Veterinary Medical Association, 1986. DOI:10.12935/JVMA1951.39.693.

[2] LYSANNE HIOB . Efficacy of an injectable toltrazuril – gleptoferron (Forceris®) to control coccidiosis (Cystoisospora suis) in comparison with iron supplemented piglets without anticoccidial treatment[J]. Veterinary parasitology, 2019. DOI:10.1016/j.vpoa.2019.100002.

You may like