During her PhD study, Pernille Aagaard Madsen explored how oxidative stress and inflammation affect piglets during weaning - a period where they are particularly vulnerable to disease. The ban on medicinal zinc oxide has led to more antibiotic use to treat post-weaning diarrhea, which is often caused by E. coli infection. Pernille studied how diets rich in antioxidants, including selenium and vitamins E and C, as well as polyunsaturated fatty acids influenced piglets’ oxidative stress and immune responses during E. coli challenges. She also examined how inflammation and oxidative stress develop over time. Using an LPS pig model, she found distinct temporal patterns in inflammatory and oxidative stress markers, suggesting their potential as biomarkers for evaluating dietary interventions that modulate infection-induced oxidative stress. Her research showed that antioxidant-enriched diets improved piglet’s antioxidant status and indicated that they can contribute to a reduction of the severity of E. coli-induced diarrhea, suggesting a dietary strategy for healthier pig production that potentially can lower the need for antibiotics.

The PhD study was completed at Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Technical Sciences, Aarhus University.

This summary was prepared by the PhD student.

Time: Friday, November 14^th, 2025 at 11:00.
Place: Room Auditorium, Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Aarhus University, Blichers Alle 20, 8830 Tjele
Title of PhD thesis: Oxidative stress and inflammatory responses in pigs during dietary interventions and bacterial challenges
Contact information: Pernille Aagaard Madsen, e-mail: pernille.madsen@anivet.au.dk, tel.: +45 29 24 17 10
Members of the assessment committee:
Professor Ana Isabel Rey Muñoz, Department of Animal Production, Complutense University of Madrid, Spain
Full Professor Paolo Trevisi, Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Bologna, Italy
Senior Researcher Ole Højberg (chair), Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Aarhus University, Denmark
Main supervisor: Professor Charlotte Lauridsen, Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Aarhus University, Denmark
Co-supervisors:
Associate Professor Andrew Richard Williams, Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
Senior Researcher Mette Skou Hedemann, Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Aarhus University, Denmark
Postdoc Dar'ya Vodolazs'ka, Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Aarhus University, Denmark
Language: The PhD dissertation will be defended in English

The defence is public.
The PhD thesis is available for reading 8 days before the defence takes place at the Graduate School of Technical Sciences/GSTS, Ny Munkegade 120, building 1521, 8000 Aarhus C.

The defence will be held online. To receive a link to the event, please send an e-mail to ole.hojberg@anivet.au.dk