Comparison of gleptoferron with iron dextran for anemia prevention in young pigs

Gleptoferron, a sterile aqueous colloidal solution of beta-ferric oxyhydroxide and dextran glucoheptonic acid, was compared with iron dextran for the prevention of Fe deficiency anemia in young pigs. Using 26 litters, pigs (within each litter) were randomly allotted to one of three treatments: 1) control (no Fe), 2) iron dextran (200 mg) and 3) gleptoferron (200 mg). Blood was collected at 0, 10, 21 and 50 d post-treatment for red blood cell count (RBC), hematocrit (HCT), hemoglobin (HGB) concentration, serum Fe concentration (Fe) and serum Fe-binding capacity (IBC). At 21 d, 30 pigs (one pig/treatment from each of 10 litters) were killed to determine milligrams nonheme Fe (NHFe) in liver and spleen, bile IBC and concentrations of bile and fecal Fe. There were no differences (P greater than .05) between Fe sources in 3- or 8-wk body weight or in any of the blood or tissue characteristics. In contrast, control pigs gained less (P less than .05) weight and had lower (P less than .05) RBC, HGB, HCT, serum Fe and liver and spleen NHFe than those that received iron dextran or gleptoferron. Serum IBC was greater (P less than .05) for the control than for Fe-treated pigs. These results demonstrate that the iron from iron dextran and gleptoferron is used with similar efficiency for anemia prevention in young pigs.