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Dr. Robin Jarquin Addresses Persistent Mycotoxin Challenges in LATAM

January 7, 2025
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At OVUM in November, held in Punta del Este, Uruguay, Amlan’s Director for Latin America, Dr. Robin Jarquin, spoke with Benjamin Ruiz of Cátedra Avícola Latam about the ongoing risk of mycotoxin contamination in poultry feed. Factors such as climate change and contaminated grains directly impact the health and performance of poultry across Latin America. Backed by extensive research, our Calibrin®-Z provides an effective solution. The all-natural feed additive offers broad-spectrum protection against toxins to enhance intestinal integrity and boost animal productivity. To learn how Calibrin-Z can safeguard your flock and improve your bottom line, click here.

Varium®’s Long History of Boosting Poultry Performance Expands with New Swine Study

November 18, 2024
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Varium® and its sister product, NeoPrime, were developed as non-antibiotic alternatives to improve production by optimizing gut health in poultry and swine respectively. Amlan has decided to streamline product offerings, research shows Varium’s patented blend of natural ingredients can provide equal benefits in swine. In a recent study, Varium improved feed conversion, reduced mortality rates and improved the overall well-being and performance of swine on a commercial farm in Mexico.

Weaned piglets are particularly susceptible to digestive disorders that can lead to poor performance.  Weaning is a critical stage for piglets, as their digestive systems are still developing and highly vulnerable to disruptions. The abrupt change in diet, combined with the stress of separation from the sow, often leads to digestive disorders like post-weaning diarrhea. These conditions can hinder nutrient absorption, weakening the piglets’ immune system and overall health. This reduction in performance early in life creates a fallback lag for the challenged piglet, which follows the animal all the way to maturity. Piglets left unsupported during weaning display lower market weight as this extended period of decreased feed intake, poor nutrient absorption, and diminished weight gain hinders healthy and efficient growth early in life. This, in turn, negatively affects the bottom line of producers worldwide. To mitigate these challenges, it is important to implement strategies to support gut health during this transition to maintain the health and performance of weaned piglets.

The patented technology of Varium offers a synergistic blend of ingredients designed to address the key challenges faced by weaned piglets. Varium was specifically designed with 3 unique modes of action to improve performance and reduce the challenge an animal faces when exposed to pathogenic bacteria and toxins. Varium works by binding pathogenic bacteria and their toxins,  protecting the gut from intestinal damage linked to performance loss, and provides an energy source to fuel the growth of healthy enterocytes vital for nutrient absorption. Additionally, it supports immune cell heath and function ensuring that the animal’s natural immune system is operating in an optimal state. Proven effective in the market for over the past 10 years, Varium was tested in a 148-day trial on weaned piglets, delivering promising results in promoting gut health and overall performance.

This trial compared the performance of 180 weaned piglets, randomly distributed in blocks of 90 males and 90 females between two treatments: Diet formulated with Varium, and diet formulated without Varium. The parameters for success included daily feed intake, average daily weight gain, feed conversion, mortality and diarrhea incidences. In all categories, the Varium group showed improvements over the control group.

Feed Conversion

 

Pigs that were fed Varium showed a advantage in feed conversion over the control group, most notably during feeding phases 3 and 6.

 

Mortality Rates

 

Mortality rates showed the most notable difference during phase two, when pigs fed Varium showed a mortality rate that was more than 60% less than the control group. The accumulated mortality rate over 7 phases for the Varium group showed a 43% reduction in mortality rate when compared to the control.

 

Diarrhea Incidence

 

The addition of Varium to the pigs’ diet cut the incidences of both pasty and liquid diarrhea in half, indicating an improvement in intestinal integrity provided by Varium.

 

Body Weight

 

After 148 days, pigs in the Varium group weighed an average of 9% more than those on the control group, further supporting Varium as a beneficial addition to pigs’ diet.

 

Feed Intake

 

The Varium group showed lower feed intake at all 7 stages over control. This, combined with improved feed conversion rates and higher live weights indicate a more efficient use of feed from the Varium group.

Improved Feed Efficiency and Gut Health is a Beneficial for Producers

Weaned pigs fed Varium in this study simply performed better than the control group. The improvement in feed conversion, along with the positive trend in body weight and reduction in mortality, suggests that Varium can be an effective tool for improving herd health and overall performance in swine.

To learn more about Varium, contact your local representative at amlan.com

 

Company Information

Amlan is the animal health business of Oil-Dri Corporation of America, a leading global manufacturer and marketer of sorbent minerals. Leveraging over 80 years of expertise in mineral science, Oil-Dri Corporation of America, doing business as “Amlan International,” is a publicly traded stock on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: ODC). AmIan International sells feed additives worldwide. Product availability may vary by country, associated claims do not constitute medical claims, and may differ based on government requirements.

A How to Guide to Including Calibrin®-Z in Your Dairy Rations

October 10, 2024
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For over a decade Calibrin ® -Z has been shown to increase milk production. However, Feeding Calibrin-Z also improves the performance of the dairy herd by promoting the general health as indicated by decreased somatic cell count, decreased death loss and abortions, and increased conception rates.

This discussion helps to show how much Calibrin-Z to include in a ration for your herd regardless of whether you are using a Total Mixed Ration or feeding a concentrate and forages separately.

The typical suggested feeding rate for Calibrin-Z for lactating dairy cows is 20 grams/head/day, although this may increase during times of high challenges. Table 1 shows how much Calibrin-Z needs to be added to a Total Mixed Ration to ensure that the desired amount is consumed at different Calibrin-Z inclusion rates and different dry matter intakes.

 

If you are feeding the concentrate and forage separately, then Table 2 can be used to aid in the calculations. For inclusion in a dairy concentrate take the number you identified from the chart above based on your dry matter intake and multiply it by a factor of; 1 ÷ the percentage of dry matter coming from the concentrate.

For example: If you are using a ration where 40% of dry matter is coming from the concentrate with 60% of the dry matter coming from the forage then the multiplier for 40%, would be 2.50, while for 50% it would be 2.00, and for 60% it would be 1.67.

So, to supply 20 grams of Calibrin-Z per head per day when a cow is eating 16 kg of DM per day and the concentrate supplies 40% of the dry matter. Chart 1 tells us that 1.25 kg would be needed in the Total Mixed Ration:

Thus, we add 3.1 kg of Calibrin-Z in the concentrate when 40% of the DM is coming from concentrate and cows are averaging 16 kg of DMI per day.

Adding Calibrin-Z helps protect your herd and is easy to incorporate in your rations. Visit amlan.com to contact your local Amlan representative and learn how Calibrin-Z can work for you.

Feeding Calibrin®-Z Results in Improved Key Performance in Turkeys

May 1, 2024
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Two field trials were conducted on commercial tom turkeys grown to 141 days, assessing key performance indices with the inclusion of Calibrin-Z®, a broad-spectrum biotoxin binder available in select international markets, in their diet from placement to harvest. The two trials were conducted in the barns of a large integrator.  A key point to these trials is that the company indicated they were having no specific mycotoxin nor bacterial challenges and therefore this is a true test of how Amlan’s base mineral product can improve performance even under normal circumstances. 

In the first trial, 26,391 poults were placed on the normal diets fed by the company and 26,422 poults were placed on that same diet with 2 lbs. of Calibrin-Z/short ton of feed added. Feeding Calibrin-Z improved each of the key performance indices (KPI’s) measured: weight gain, feed conversion, and livability. Feeding Calibrin-Z improved gain by 2.8% over the standard company diet at the target age of 141 days (Table 1).  Often increased weight gain is a result of increased feed intake and there is no effect on feed conversion. However, in this experiment adding Calibrin-Z to the turkey feed decreased the amount of feed required per unit of gain. Feed conversion improved by 6 points when Calibrin-Z was fed compared to the feed conversion of the turkeys fed the standard diet when adjusted to a common 42 lb. body weight. Thus 2.52 lbs. less feed was needed to get each turkey to that 42 lb. body weight. Additionally, livability improved by 1.85% when Calibrin-Z was fed. Livability of the turkeys fed the diet containing Calibrin-Z was 85.47% versus 83.62% for the conventionally fed birds. The combination of additional weight and increased livability resulted in 58,800 more live pounds delivered to the processing plant. 

Table 1. Results of the first trial comparing 141 day old tom turkeys fed a standard diet or a diet containing 2 Lbs./finished ton of Calibrin-Z. 

A second trial was conducted to confirm the results seen in the first study. In the second study, 27,022 poults were placed on the standard diet and 27,024 poults were placed on the diet containing Calibrin-Z. Again, each KPI improved when Calibrin-Z was added to the diet. Gain improved by 2.6%, feed conversion improved by 3.6 points, and livability improved by 1.3 percentage units.  Feeding Calibrin-Z to 27,024 turkeys in the second study resulted in 46,560 lbs. more live weight delivered to the plant at harvest. 

Table 2. Results of the second trial comparing 141 day old tom turkeys fed a standard diet or a diet containing 2 lbs./finished ton of Calibrin-Z. 

 

In an industry where even a small performance improvement has a big impact adding Calibrin-Z resulted in a high Return-On-Investment (Table 1).  In the first experiment the ROI was 17:1 while in the second experiment ROI was 11:1. 

 

Calibrin-Z is the foundation of Amlan International’s innovative value-adding feed additives for poultry and livestock and is sold in select international markets as a broad-spectrum biotoxin binder. As the animal health business of Oil-Dri® Corporation of America, Amlan products are backed by Oil-Dri’s 80-plus years of mineral science expertise. Additionally, vertical integration means Oil-Dri and Amlan own every step of the production process to deliver consistent high-quality animal health products around the world. To learn more about Calibrin-Z and our other mineral-based feed additives, visit amlan.com 

Understand How Calibrin®-Z Controls T-2 Toxin in Broilers

January 19, 2024
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Poultry producers mostly know T-2 toxin by the horrific lesions seen on the beaks of poultry. The fast-acting T-2 toxin has a major impact on the growth and performance of poultry and livestock. Luckily it is not the most common trichothecenes toxin produced by Fusarium molds, deoxynivalenol would fill that spot, but T-2 is considered the most toxic of the trichothecenes. This poison can be inhaled or adsorbed through the skin or the gastro-intestinal tract and causes multiple problems in poultry and livestock. A short list of problems includes decreased gain and feed efficiency, decreased egg production and hatchability, decreased immune function, and increased mortality. It has been shown to have a synergistic negative effect with other mycotoxins in the diet or when administered in conjunction with lipopolysaccharide (aka LPS). This may be one reason why there is additional negative impact when there is a co-challenge with T-2 and gram-negative bacteria. Control of other dietary mycotoxins or LPS concurrently with T-2 may be important in any attempt to decrease its effects.   

 

T-2 toxin decreases the productivity of poultry and livestock by inhibiting protein synthesis at the cellular level and causing cell death. In eukaryotic cell’s DNA, RNA, and protein, synthesis is inhibited by T-2 toxin. It also induces apoptosis or programmed cell death.

A major concern in poultry is how T-2 affects the gastrointestinal tract starting with lesions of the beak and gizzard and going through the entire gut. These lesions will affect feed intake, gain, and feed efficiency. But T-2 can affect all aspects of production and reproduction, so egg production and hatchability also need to be considered. In early research looking at the effects of T-2 on hatchability, 2 ppm of T-2 toxin was fed to laying hens, egg production decreased by 3.8 percent, fertility of the eggs that were laid decreased by 1.7 percent, and hatchability of fertile eggs decreased by 5.6 percent. This is a substantial loss of hatched chicks because of the toxin in the feed.

T-2 is quickly adsorbed. And it can be adsorbed through the lungs, the skin, or through the gastrointestinal tract when ingested in the feed. Approximately 90% of T-2 is adsorbed into the body within 30 minutes of ingestion, but it does have a short half-life of less than 20 minutes. T-2 producing Fusarium molds can occur in feedstuffs either during a warm and moist growing season or during storage under high moisture, especially if stored grains have damage such as broken or cracked kernels. The best option for producers is to use feedstuffs free of all toxins, however, the reality is that this is not always possible. In those cases where feedstuffs are being fed that may contain T-2 it would be beneficial to have a fast-acting toxin binder in the diets.    

Because T-2 is so damaging and so rapidly absorbed, the toxin binder that is used needs to work and work fast. Calibrin®–Z, available in select international markets, adsorbed ~70% of T-2 toxin within 1 minute in research looking at speed-of-binding in vitro. This was approximately 24 times faster than the other products used in the trial. Additionally, Calibrin-Z had previously been shown to bind other mycotoxins and LPS in vitro and in vivo, which may be important during a T-2 challenge. A test to determine the binding ability of Calibrin-Z in vitro was conducted to look at seven common fungal biotoxins where the binder-to-toxin ratio was as if there was 1 kg of Calibrin-Z per metric ton of feed vs. observed concentrations of mycotoxins in feed. In vitro data showed that Calibrin-Z could bind LPS, but it has also been seen in vivo when Calibrin-Z was being fed to laying hens.

Calibrin-Z Mitigates the Effects of T-2 Toxin in Broiler Chicks

Recently, research was conducted at a large university in Brazil to determine the effects of Calibrin-Z on broiler chickens challenged with dietary T-2 Toxin. For this experiment, a total of 180 one-day-old male Cobb 500 broiler chicks were used. At the beginning of the trial the birds had an average body weight of 47 grams, with the average initial weight for each bird being equal. They were fed three different treatments 1) Unchallenged Control; 2) Challenged Control with 2 ppm T-2 Toxin; and 3) 2 ppm T-2 Toxin with 0.5% dietary Calibrin-Z. They were fed the treatment diets for 21 days. No aflatoxins, deoxynivalenol, diacetoxyscirpenol, fumonisins, ochratoxin A, T- 2 Toxin or zearalenone were detected in the feed ingredients that were tested before mixing the diets. The T-2 Toxin that was added to the feed for the challenged treatments was produced by Fusarium sporotrichioides fungi, and was 82% T-2 Toxin, 18% HT-2 Toxin.  There were 6 pens that were randomly assigned to each treatment and there were 10 chicks in each pen. Chicks had free access to a constant supply of food and water. The diet was corn-soybean meal-based and formulated according to requirements in the Cobb Broiler Management Guide.  

The intent of the study was to determine the effect of T-2 toxin on growth performance of broilers and how the addition of Calibrin-Z helped to mitigate any negative effects. Calibrin-Z is a unique calcium montmorillonite that has been shown to bind toxins, both fungal and bacterial, as well as lipopolysaccharides (LPS).

Feeding Calibrin-Z to the birds challenged with T-2 toxin increased body weight by 5% compared to the birds that were fed diets with T-2 toxin and no Calibrin-Z. This improvement returned body weight to that of the unchallenged control birds. In this experiment, there was no effect of feeding T-2 on feed intake with birds on all three treatments having equal feed intake.

Because there was no difference in feed intake the feed conversion ratio followed the same pattern seen in body weight. Feeding Calibrin-Z to birds challenged with T-2 toxin improved feed conversion by 8 points, with values of 1.50 for Calibrin-Z fed birds compared to 1.58 for birds that only received T-2 toxin in the feed.

While aflatoxin is the mycotoxin best known for its negative effects on the liver, T-2 toxin can also have bad effects. In this study, relative liver weight was higher in the challenged control, 3.33%, compared to the unchallenged control, 2.84%, but feeding Calibrin-Z again mitigated the negative effect of the T-2 toxin, with challenged birds fed Calibrin-Z having a relative liver weight of 2.96%.   

T-2 Toxin is a fast-acting mycotoxin that has a tremendous impact on animal performance. It acts in a synergistic way with challenges from other mycotoxins and lipopolysaccharide. To decrease its impact, you need a fast-acting toxin binder to control T-2 quickly while also controlling other potential problems. Calibrin-Z is a fast-acting multi-toxin binder that has proven results.   

 As the animal health business of Oil-Dri® Corporation of America, Amlan products are backed by Oil-Dri’s 80-plus years of mineral science expertise. Oil-Dri and Amlan are vertically integrated and own every step of the production process to consistently deliver safe, high-quality animal health products around the world. Calibrin-Z, a calcium montmorillonite clay, is sold as a broad-spectrum toxin binder. To understand how Calibrin-Z can work in your production system, contact your local Amlan representative.

 

References:  

Chi, M. S., C. J. Mirocha, H. J. Kurtz, G. Weaver, F. Bates, and W. Shimoda. 1977. Effects of T-2 Toxin on Reproductive Performance and Health of Laying Hens. Poultry Sci. 56:628 – 637.  

Tai, J.-H. and J. J. Pestka. 1988. Synergistic interaction between the trichothecene T-2 toxin and Salmonella typhimurium lipopolysaccharide in C3H/HeN and C3H/HeJ mice. Toxicol Lett 44:191–200.  

Mycotoxins: Risks in Plant, Animal, and Human Systems. 2003. Task Force Report No. 139 Council for Agricultural Science and Technology. Ames, Iowa, USA.

Article Showcases Phylox® in Watt Poultry International

December 21, 2023
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Watt Poultry® International published an article earlier this year on Amlan international’s product, Phylox®. Phylox is a natural alternative to anticoccidial drugs that works well alone, as part of a rotation program, or as part of a bio-shuttle program to control coccidiosis. The natural ingredients of phylox targets multiple Eimeria species with several modes of action, while also promoting a healthy intestinal barrier and improving intestinal immunity. If you missed this article, here is your chance to learn more about Phylox. Follow the link to learn more.

Reduce Salmonella Prevalence and Load with NeutraPath®

December 21, 2023
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Salmonellosis is a foodborne pathogen that causes illness and death worldwide. A blended feed additive has been shown to have good effects in vitro on a wide range of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria and in vivo to mitigate the effects of Clostridium perfringens in broilers and E. coli in swine. Thus, it was decided to investigate the ability of the proprietary blend of essential oils, medium-chain fatty acids, and an activated toxin-adsorbing mineral (NeutraPath® available in select international markets) to control Salmonella. In vitro and in vivo research with Salmonella typhimurium and Salmonella heidelberg showed the blend could reduce prevalence and bacterial load of Salmonella in broiler chickens. Based on these in vitro and in vivo data, feeding this blend could be a potential new method to help control Salmonella in broiler chickens and aid in control of pathogens at the farm level. 

 

A Foodborne Pathogen 

Salmonella is a very common pathogenic bacteria that can be passed from animals to humans. The typical symptoms of salmonellosis in humans are diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps, with the occasional vomiting. Generally, this is mild and doesn’t require medical intervention, but it can be deadly, especially in young children. Worldwide, Salmonella is one of four main causes of diarrheal diseases, with diarrheal disease being the 2nd leading cause of death in children under five. In the United States approximately 1,350,000,000 people are infected annually, ~26,500 people are hospitalized, and ~420 die each year. The very young, the very old, pregnant women, and people with compromised immune systems are generally affected the most.  

According to the World Health Organization, Salmonella, a hardy bacteria, can survive in a dry environment for several weeks but several weeks turns into several months if it is in water.  

 

Sometimes salmonellosis can result from coming in direct contact with animals that carry the bacteria, typically reptiles or birds. There are two species of Salmonella, bongori and enterica. Salmonella bongori is normally associated with cold-blooded animals but can infect humans. Selling tiny turtles (those with shells less than 4 inches long) has been prohibited in the U.S. since 1975 because of their association with salmonellosis in children. Salmonella enterica has more serovars with approximately 80 that can infect humans and animals. With an increase in the popularity of raising your own chickens the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) has issued repeated reminders about the safe handling of chickens, including a reminder “don’t kiss your chickens” because of serious outbreaks of salmonellosis, especially among children, linked to raising chickens in the backyard.

But eating or mishandling raw or undercooked contaminated food is the source of most cases of salmonellosis in humans. Live poultry often don’t show signs of carrying Salmonella even if their intestines contain the pathogenic bacteria. There are multiple ways that birds can be exposed to Salmonella. Exposure can be through contaminated feed, from wild birds or rodents, or from a contaminated barn. It is even possible that poultry may be contaminated before the egg that they hatched from was laid. Hens can have bacteria in the ovary or oviduct and the egg can be contaminated before the shell forms around the egg, meaning that even clean, washed eggs could be contaminated. The Poultry Industry has been working diligently to control this problem and this source of contamination of broiler chickens has declined in recent years.  

 

Even though a majority of the foodborne illnesses due to Salmonella originate from non-poultry sources, twenty-three percent of the Salmonella outbreaks in the U.S. are linked to poultry consumption (16.8% from chicken, 6.6% from turkey) with another 6.3% coming from eggs. Salmonella in the intestine of poultry can lead to contamination of poultry meat during processing. Proper cooking will kill the bacteria, but improper handling may spread bacteria around the kitchen and raw vegetables, undercooked meat or uncooked foods containing eggs (i.e., cookie dough) may still be contaminated with live bacteria. Together the CDC, FDA (Food and Drug Administration), and USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) have a goal of reducing Salmonella illnesses by 25% by 2030. In order to do this, they need to decrease Salmonella infections from all products regulated by the Food Safety and Inspection Service division of the USDA by 25%. One way to help reach this goal is to help minimize the amount of Salmonella that comes into the processing plant making it less likely that contamination of poultry meat will occur.  

Poultry producers need help to accomplish this goal. Research has shown that a proprietary blend of essential oils, medium-chain fatty acids, and an activated toxin-adsorbing mineral (NeutraPath®, Amlan International, available in select international markets) may be of assistance. The blend has anti-virulence effects because of its ability to bind quorum sensing molecules, exotoxins, and endotoxins associated with bacteria. It also has direct bacteriostatic/ bactericidal effects against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Its efficacy has been proven over years of in vitro and in vivo trials at multiple research sites, against multiple bacteria, in multiple animal species.  

In vivo research in chickens showed that the blend decreased the effects of Clostridium perfringens. A summary of the studies showed that it improved mortality, gain, and feed conversion in challenged broilers. In weaning pigs, it was shown to decrease the impact of enterotoxigenic E-coli (F-18+). In the pigs challenged with E. coli the blend improved feed efficiency and decreased frequency of diarrhea. When the fecal microbiome was examined, there was a higher relative abundance of Lactobacillaceae and a lower relative abundance of Enterobacteriaceae. Enterobacteriaceae is a family of Gram-negative bacteria that includes both E. coli and Salmonella. These positive results led researchers to investigate its effects on Salmonella, with research being conducted both in vitro and in vivo.  

 

Salmonella Research 

 

In vitro tests were used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of NeutraPath against S. heidelberg. Three different concentrations (1, 3 and 5 mg/ml) of NeutraPath with a control of 0 mg/ml were added to samples of an S. heidelberg strain. The MIC of NeutraPath for S. heidelberg was found to be 5 mg/ml. To determine the MBC Salmonella cultures were incubated at 37ºC for 16 hours without agitation. After incubation, bacterial counts were measured by serial dilution. A 30 μl aliquot of each dilution was plated onto lysogeny broth and incubated overnight. The MBC of NeutraPath for S. heidelberg was determined to be 4 μg/ml. These assays demonstrated that the blend has strong in vitro inhibitory and bactericidal activities against this key pathogen.  

Because of the results seen in vitro researchers conducted an in vivo experiment. The researchers wanted to know how the blend would affect the Salmonella prevalence in birds previously challenged with S. heidelberg and fed for a short period of time before sampling.  

After feeding the treatments for seven days, pre-moistened boot-sock swab sampling showed that there was S. heidelberg contamination in 100% of the pens. Cecal digesta samples and cloacal swabs were also collected from 10 of the broilers that had been directly challenged at hatch to determine Salmonella prevalence. The prevalence of Salmonella decreased by 40% in the cecal digesta (83.3% vs. 50.0%) and by 55% (60.0% vs. 26.7%) in the cloacal swabs when the blend was added to the diet for 7 days prior to testing. 

 

Comparable studies were done at second location with another group of researchers to establish that the results from the initial studies could be repeated in other Salmonella serovars. This time studies looked at the effects of the blend on Salmonella typhimurium.  

 

First an in vitro study digestion was used to simulate the crop, proventriculus and intestinal section of the gastrointestinal tract. Each “section” had pH and enzymatic conditions that would correspond to that area of the gut. Adding the antimicrobial blend inhibited the growth of S. typhimurium, reducing the total colony forming units recovered in each section. This positive result meant that an in vivo study was warranted. This time the broilers were started at one day of age. Thirty male broiler chicks were placed on two treatments. The treatments were a challenged control with non-treated feed, or birds fed that diet + 0.25% of the blend. At nine days-of-age chickens were given an oral dose of 106 CFU (Colony Forming Units) of live S. typhimurium. Twenty-four hours after the challenge ceca and cecal tonsils were removed so that they could be evaluated for Salmonella recovery. Both the number of positive samples and the amount of Salmonella bacteria found in those positive samples decreased in the treated birds. Feeding the blend decreased the ceca that tested positive for S. typhimurium by 41.7%, 100% of the tested ceca were positive in birds fed the untreated control compared to only 58.3% of the ceca in the birds that were fed the blend. In the birds that tested positive the total S. typhimurium bacterial load recovered in the ceca also dropped by 1.84 log10 CFU/g compared to the untreated control.

Conclusion 

Around the world foodborne salmonellosis continues to be a problem. Regulators are targeting aggressive goals for salmonella reduction in poultry meat. A proprietary blend of essential oils, medium-chain fatty acids, and an activated toxin-adsorbing mineral has been shown to work against a variety of bacteria. Research has shown efficacy against C. perfringens, E. coli, and S. typhimurium and S. heidelberg. Based on the current in vitro and in vivo research adding the blended product has the potential to reduce Salmonella colonization in broiler chickens. This is a viable option for use in poultry health programs including those controlling Salmonella contamination. To learn more about NeutraPath or to contact a local representative, visit amlan.com.

 

The Role of Quorum Sensing in Necrotic Enteritis Development

July 11, 2023
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The fast onset of necrotic enteritis and the devastating production losses it inflicts make it one of the most challenging diseases for the poultry industry, particularly for antibiotic-free producers. Clostridium perfringens, the cause of necrotic enteritis, possesses a number of virulence factors that allow it to mount a fast, efficient attack on the host including potent toxins and cell-to-cell communication (quorum sensing). However, natural mineral-based products that can disrupt quorum sensing and reduce the virulence of C. perfringens are available.

The Pathogenesis of Necrotic Enteritis

C. perfringens is an anerobic, spore-forming pathogen found in the normal microbiota of poultry, as well as the poultry house. Necrotic enteritis occurs when predisposing conditions, such as a change in diet, immune status or intestinal pathophysiology, promote an overgrowth of C. perfringens. Coccidiosis can also increase the incidence of necrotic enteritis, as the damage that Eimeria spp. cause to intestinal epithelial cells promotes the invasion of C. perfringens (as well as other pathogens).

C. perfringens’ Rapid Infection Rate

C. perfringens is one of the fastest growing bacterial pathogens. Under optimal conditions it can replicate every 8 to 10 minutes — outgrowing other resident bacteria to achieve intestinal colonization.1 As well as a rapid growth rate, C. perfringens infection involves multiple steps, which likely occur simultaneously, including colonization, replication, nutrient procurement, evasion of host immune defenses, host tissue damage and transmission.2

Exotoxin Roles in Necrotic Enteritis Development

Multiple exotoxins can be produced by C. perfringens, including alpha-toxin and necrotic enteritis toxin B-like toxin (NetB). Alpha-toxin is cytotoxic to endothelial cells, red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets, while NetB toxin forms pores in cell membranes that allow electrolytes to rupture cells, causing cell death and necrotic lesions in the small intestinal mucosa.3 These two toxins are known to have a role in necrotic enteritis development.

C. perfringens Growth Depends on Host Nutrients

C. perfringens relies on nutrients from the host to live and multiply — a process which results in the destruction of host tissues (formation of necrotic lesions). C. perfringens lacks enzymes needed for amino acid biosynthesis and subsequent protein synthesis, so enzymes and toxins are released to degrade structural proteins from the host.4 The host amino acids and/or peptides are then taken in by C. perfringens for use in its own protein synthesis. 4

To produce energy, C. perfringens degrades large sugar compounds from the host and ferments them, producing gas that enhances the anerobic environment.4 C. perfringens also produces hyaluronidases that increase connective tissue permeability and help C. perfringens spread into deeper tissues.4

Quorum Sensing Controls Exotoxin and Enzyme Production

C. perfringens uses quorum sensing (cell-to-cell communication) to coordinate exotoxin and enzyme production to occur when its population reaches a density that supports the most efficient use of its metabolic resources.5 For example, to determine the optimum time to start producing NetB, the accessory gene regulator-like (Agr-like) quorum-sensing system sends out signals that are recognized by the VirR/VirS two-component regulatory system.5 Once the VirR/VirS system detects that the C. perfringens population has reached the threshold density, it switches on the expression of NetB and other virulence and related metabolism genes.2

Quorum Quenching Reduces Pathogen Virulence

Quorum quenching is an approach that can disrupt the quorum-sensing system of pathogenic bacteria, preventing cell-to-cell communication and the expression of quorum-sensing-controlled genes that produce toxins and other virulence factors. Additionally, quorum-quenching products should reduce the chance of antibiotic resistance, since they are modifying bacteria behavior rather than killing them.

Natural Quorum-Sensing Control

One product that has displayed quorum-quenching properties is the mineral-based feed additive Calibrin®-Z (available in select international markets). This all-natural single-ingredient product binds bacterial pathogens and the toxins they produce, as well as multiple mycotoxins, to help protect the intestinal barrier against enteric disease. Other natural mineral-based products can also help manage necrotic enteritis; read this article to learn more.

An in vitro study found that Calibrin-Z separated out quorum-sensing molecules by adsorption or catalytically broke them down into small fragments. By reducing the concentration of quorum-sensing biochemicals, Calibrin-Z can potentially disrupt the ability of pathogenic bacteria (including C. perfringens) to produce toxins, since quorum sensing controls this function. Calibrin-Z was also shown to effectively bind alpha-toxin and NetB toxin, further reducing the virulence of C. perfringens.

 

The global reduction in the use of in-feed antibiotics has compelled producers to rely on other management methods to maintain a healthy intestinal environment in poultry and reduce the risk of necrotic enteritis. The use of best-practice management strategies and inclusion of mineral-based feed additives that reduce the virulence of C. perfringens can assist in promoting intestinal health and maximizing production efficiency. To learn more about necrotic enteritis and natural mineral-based methods to control it, contact your local Amlan representative.

 

References

  1. Kiu R, Hall LJ. An update on the human and animal enteric pathogen Clostridium perfringens. Emerg Microbes Infect. 2018;7:141.
  2. Prescott JF, Parreira VR, Mehdizadeh Gohari I, Lepp D, Gong J. The pathogenesis of necrotic enteritis in chickens: what we know and what we need to know: a review. Avian Pathol. 2016;45:288–94.
  3. Chi, F. A Viable Adjunct or Alternative to Antibiotics: Meta-Analysis of Broiler Research Shows Natural Growth Promoter Delivers Feed Efficiency Equal to Antibiotics. Amlan International.
  4. Shimizu T, Ohtani K, Hirakawa H, Ohshima K, Yamashita A, Shiba T, Ogasawara N, Hattori M, Kuhara S, Hayashi H. Complete genome sequence of Clostridium perfringens, an anaerobic flesh-eater. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2002;99:996–1001.
  5. Yu Q, Lepp D, Mehdizadeh Gohari I, Wu T, Zhou H, Yin X, Yu H, Prescott JF, Nie SP, Xie MY, Gong J. The Agr-Like Quorum Sensing System Is Required for Pathogenesis of Necrotic Enteritis Caused by Clostridium perfringens in Poultry. Infect Immun. 2017;85:e00975-16.

 

Advanced Technologies to Mitigate Disease in Poultry Production

May 8, 2023
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As more poultry producers incorporate antibiotic-free (ABF) practices into their operations, the need for innovative disease mitigation technologies has also increased. Amlan International is meeting this demand by developing next-generation products, using mineral-based technology, that optimize bird intestinal health and add value for the producer.

In this post we examine four technological advances that could help drive progress in managing disease, bacteria and toxins in flocks while meeting consumer demands for high-quality animal protein. We discuss the advanced mineral technology that is the foundation of Amlan’s natural feed additives as well as a unique diagnostic service offered by Amlan. We also highlight technology on the market from other (unaffiliated) companies that our team thought might be useful for ABF producers to consider when looking for new ways to manage disease in their flock.

  1. Optimize intestinal health with advanced mineral technology

In a crowded feed additive market, advanced mineral technology is the Amlan difference. As the animal health business of Oil-Dri® Corporation of America, Amlan’s scientifically proven products are backed by

Oil-Dri’s 80 years of experience in mineral science. The single-source raw material that is the core of Amlan’s products is calcium montmorillonite with high-capacity opal-CT lepispheres. Proprietary thermal processing — that does not use harmful chemicals — is tailored for each product to create unique functionalities.

Calibrin®-Z (available in select international markets) is a broad-spectrum biotoxin binder that protects poultry and livestock from biotoxins that reduce performance and cause morbidity or mortality. All-natural Calibrin-Z binds polar (e.g., aflatoxin) and nonpolar (e.g., zearalenone) mycotoxins, as well as bacterial toxins like those produced by C. perfringens, E. coli and C. difficile. Binding these biotoxins enhances intestinal health to improve feed efficiency and overall animal performance.

  1. Minimize production loss with timely mycotoxin diagnostic results

When determining whether feed is contaminated with mycotoxins, a fast and accurate analysis is critical for preventing the negative health and production effects mycotoxins can cause. Amlan has partnered with Envirologix, the world’s most trusted name for quantitative testing kits at the point of grain delivery, to bring producers . This program provides on-site quantitative mycotoxin detection results within 10 minutes. The test identifies mycotoxin contamination levels in the feed, and Amlan’s dose calculator can be used to determine the optimal dose of to apply in the animal’s ration to mitigate the toxin threat.

  1. Automation technology increases animal welfare and detects disease

Robot automation in poultry barns is a growing segment of the poultry industry. Robotic technology uses sensors and 2D and 3D cameras to perform repetitive and time-consuming tasks such as disinfecting barns, picking up floor eggs, vaccinating and managing litter.

Increasingly important in modern poultry operations, robotics can also help mitigate production risks and ensure animal welfare goals are met. Thermal imaging can be used to detect animal body temperatures, early disease indicators, record bird activity/welfare and report mortalities while performing their assigned tasks. Monitoring technology can also help producers observe environmental metrics in facilities such as temperature, humidity and carbon dioxide and ammonia levels. A recent development in this area is using sensors to determine when a poultry house smell is no longer “normal.” This technology could help identify a biosecurity or disease risk to a flock.

  1. Blockchain technology facilitates food traceability

Modern consumers are increasingly demanding to know more about how and where their food is raised. Blockchain technology, often in combination with other digital tech, helps track and trace animals and food products throughout the supply chain by linking small packages of data to provide a digital audit of meat production and food safety. At the farm level, these data points could include point of origin, veterinary and feed source records and transportation dates.

As poultry move through the food production system, blockchain technology records significant data points to ensure food supplies meet the traceability requirements that consumers demand. In the processing sector, for example, blockchain can link production information with the final product’s labeling and packaging information to ensure compliance with brand commitments. Blockchain offers incredible promise for connecting poultry growers with new market opportunities.

These emerging trends are important to monitor so producers can determine how best their operations can evolve and remain competitive. Investing in the right technologies will be the key to moving poultry producers to greater production, improved efficiencies, enhanced market opportunities and increased profitability. At Amlan, we are developing and bringing to market advanced feed additive technologies that optimize the intestinal health and production efficiency of producers’ flocks while preserving the economic viability of poultry production. To learn more, click .

Natural Mineral-Based Neutralization of E. coli Toxins

April 10, 2023
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Bacterial pathogens such as Escherichia coli (E. coli) are a leading cause of enteric disease and economic loss for animal protein producers. Found readily in the environment of poultry and swine, E. coli can produce powerful toxins (exotoxins and endotoxins, see Figure 1) that damage the integrity and function of the intestinal barrier. These toxins cause inflammation, diarrhea and malabsorption that result in less gain, higher feed conversion and reduced performance. However, multiple studies have confirmed that natural mineral-based feed additives can provide an antibiotic-free method of reducing the negative production effects of E. coli toxins.

Figure 1: E. coli exotoxins are produced by the cell and secreted into the environment. Endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide, LPS) is released from the cell wall of E. coli or other gram-negative bacteria after the bacteria dies.

 

Powerful Toxins

Multiple E. coli strains produce potent exotoxins as part of their virulence package. These powerful toxins are major causes of enteric disease, particularly in neonatal and recently weaned animals. The toxins damage the intestinal lining, resulting in diarrhea, dehydration and even death.

Heat-Labile Enterotoxin

Enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) — a common cause of porcine post-weaning diarrhea (PWD) and a source of diarrhea in poultry — produces the enterotoxin heat-labile toxin (LT). To exert its effects, LT is internalized by binding to surface receptors on the host intestinal mucosa.1 Once inside the cell, LT alters the electrolyte and water balance of the cell, which leads to diarrhea.1 A survey of U.S. ETEC isolates linked to porcine PWD showed that 57.7% had the heat-labile toxin gene.2

Shiga-like Toxin

E. coli types that produce shiga-like toxins are referred to as shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC). There are two types of shiga-like toxins (Stx1 and Stx2), and both have multiple subtypes. The mode of action for shiga-like toxin is inhibition of host cell protein synthesis that results in cell death.3 Edema disease (E. coli enterotoxemia) in swine is caused by shiga-like toxin (Stx2) subtype e.4

E. coli Endotoxin

The outer membrane of gram-negative bacteria such as E. coli or Salmonella contains lipopolysaccharides (LPS) which protect the bacteria from the environment. When the bacteria die naturally or as a result of using antibacterial products (e.g., antibiotics, specialized feed additives), endotoxin is released from the cell wall. Endotoxin causes specialized immune cells in the animal’s body to release high levels of cytokines that result in elevated temperature, weakness, tissue necrosis and, at high levels, death.

Management Programs to Control E. coli

With the global push toward antibiotic-free production, maintaining a healthy intestinal environment to reduce the risk of disease from E. coli now requires effective management strategies. Natural feed additives, tight biosecurity, effective sanitation, and good husbandry practices that protect the intestinal environment can all help control the risk of E. coli outbreaks.

Natural Mineral-Based Feed Additives Neutralize E. coli Toxins

The backbone of Amlan’s scientifically proven products is our natural mineral that undergoes proprietary thermal processing to optimize the efficacy of each product. Varium® (available in select international markets) for poultry and NeoPrime® (available in select international markets) for swine are species-specific formulations of three synergistic ingredients that improve feed conversion and intestinal integrity in poultry and maximize post-weaning performance in swine. Calibrin®-Z (available in select international markets) is a low-dose biotoxin binder for all species that actively defends the intestinal barrier against a broad spectrum of toxins produced by bacteria and fungi.

Adsorption of E. coli toxins by Varium and Calibrin-Z

The ability of Varium and Calibrin-Z to adsorb E. coli toxins was assessed in vitro by the United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS), Beltsville, MD. Calibrin-Z or Varium was added separately to each toxin, incubated to allow the toxin to bind, and then centrifuged to separate the free and bound toxins. The USDA researchers had developed a specific ELISA for heat-labile and shiga-like toxins, which was used to analyze the supernatant to quantify the presence of unbound toxins.

Varium and Calibrin-Z were both effective at neutralizing both exotoxins (Figures 2 and 3) and endotoxins. (Figure 4).

 

Figure 2: Varium neutralized E. coli exotoxins in vitro. Source: USDA-ARS, Beltsville, MD.

Figure 3: Calibrin-Z adsorbed E. coli exotoxins in vitro. Source: USDA-ARS, Beltsville, MD.

Figure 4: Varium and Calibrin-Z adsorbed E. coli endotoxin (LPS) in vitro. Calibrin-Z source: Gibraltar Laboratories, Fairfield, NJ. Varium source: USDA-ARS, Beltsville, MD.

NeoPrime Reduces Plasma Endotoxin Concentration

When endotoxin is released from dead gram-negative bacteria, it can damage the intestinal epithelial cells. Weakness in the intestinal barrier can lead to “leaky gut syndrome,” which allows the endotoxin to enter the blood stream. NeoPrime was assessed for its ability to strengthen intestinal integrity by analyzing the blood plasma endotoxin concentration of weanling pigs. Compared to a control that contained two antibiotics and zinc oxide, NeoPrime in multiple diet formulations reduced plasma endotoxin concentration from E. coli or other gram-negative bacteria (Figure 5).

Figure 5: Feeding NeoPrime decreased plasma endotoxins, indicating improved gut barrier function Source: Hunan Agricultural University, Hunan, China.

 

When to Use Our Mineral-Based Feed Additives

The research presented here supports in vivo studies showing that supplementation with Varium, NeoPrime or Calibrin-Z is an effective approach to reducing the effects of enteric disease in poultry and swine. To learn more about these natural mineral-based control methods for improving intestinal health and production efficiency, visit amlan.com or contact us at info@amlan.com.

 

 

References

  1. Duan Q, Xia P, Nandre R, Zhang W, Zhu G. Review of newly identified functions associated with the heat-labile toxin of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli. Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2019.
  2. Zhang W, Zhao M, Ruesch L, Omot A, Francis D. Prevalence of virulence genes in Escherichia coli strains recently isolated from young pigs with diarrhea in the US. Veterinary Microbiology. 2007;123:145–152.
  3. Melton-Celsa A. Shiga toxin (Stx) classification, structure, and function. Microbiol Spec. 2014;2.
  4. Baldo V, Salogni C, Giovannini S, D’Incau M, Boniotti MB, Birbes L, Pitozzi A, Formenti N, Grassi A, Pasquali P, Alborali GL. Pathogenicity of shiga toxin type 2e Escherichia coli in pig colibacillosis. Front Vet Sci 2020 Sep 18;7: n.p. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2020.545818.

 

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