Biotin aff ects the immune response of piglets inoculated with porcine circovirus type 2

Weanling crossbred pigs were used in a 5-week trial to evaluate the eff ects of biotin and porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) challenge on serum cytokine concentrations and humoral immunoresponse. Although not signifi cant, there was a trend towards reduced interferon-γ concentration in the challenged pigs compared to the controls, especially at 14 and 21 days postinoculation (dpi). Biotin supplementation with 50 or 200 μg/kg biotin improved these levels, with higher doses producing an earlier and stronger response. Although the magnitude of the immune response was small and inconsistent, diet supplementation with 50 or 200 μg/kg biotin appeared to increase serum immunoglobulin G levels. We conclude that PCV2 inoculation depressed, while biotin supplementation increased, the immune response of weanling piglets.