ISSUE FOCUS FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE August 2022 39 shown levels of LPS in ruminal fluid during SARA to reach higher than 150,000 EU/mL. Swine Similar to other species, LPS’s effect on swine production comes from the inflammatory reaction endotoxins cause. First, the gastrointestinal barrier alters due to the inflammatory response. A study on the effects of endotoxins on the morphology of the gastrointestinal gut barrier showed that LPS decreased the height and area of intestinal villi, increased the width of the villi, and increased the depth and width of the intestinal glands. The authors concluded these effects contribute to decreased intestinal nutrient absorption and increased co-infection with other pathogens, leading to post-weaning diarrhea syndrome. Second, initiated by exposure to endotoxins, fever is mediated through the action of IL-6. There are other symptoms mediated through the action of the different cytokines but all are related to the inflammatory response. As a result of inflammation, endotoxemia leads to a feverish state that results in reduced feed intake. Finally, with the activation of the inflammatory system, there is a nutrient expense. This results in a lower feed conversion rate (FCR) and decreased growth performance. MANAGING ENDOTOXINS In general, strategies to control endotoxin contamination in animals are designed to limit bacterial contamination. These strategies include biosecurity, prebiotics, probiotics, improved nutrient digestibility, etc. Other strategies include vaccination (expensive and currently only applied to humans), immunomodulation (to reduce inflammation), and the use of a toxin binder scientifically proven to target endotoxins (the most practical approach). Since gram-negative bacteria are always present, the use of a scientifically supported endotoxin binder to reduce the absorption of endotoxins is a practical solution for many operations. Toxin binders are widely used to control other toxins, such as mycotoxins, and work by binding the toxin into a form too complex and large to be absorbed into the blood system. The complex is then eliminated in the feces. Most mycotoxin binders are hydrophilic molecules (e.g., bentonites and aluminosilicates) efficient at capturing polar molecules such as Aflatoxin. The capacity of these traditional mycotoxin binders to capture more lipophilic-like molecules such as LPS, zearalenone, or DON is questionable. IN VITRO ENDOTOXIN BINDING Agrimprove’s toxin binder has been extensively tested under in vitro conditions for its capacity to bind endotoxins at both low and high concentrations. In addition, an in vitro study using HPLC (High Precision Liquid Chromatography) to understand the adsorption of endotoxin by the toxin binder and a commercial endotoxin binder was performed. To mimic the conditions, present in the gastrointestinal tract of animals, the in vitro
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