International Aquafeed Directory 2023-24

24
COMPANY PROFILE DR ECKEL COMPANY PROFILE
Hidden threat Endotoxins:
The stealthy saboteur of optimal performance
By Dr. Iris Kröger, Muhammad Umar and Dr. Bernhard Eckel
Dr. Eckel Animal Nutrition GmbH & Co. KG, Germany
compounds. Thus, it can reduce
performance-limiting effects of
endotoxins and improve survival rates.
This effect has been confirmed in
several trials, for instance in a trial with
shrimp conducted in cooperation with
the Faculty of Fisheries at Kasetsart
University in Thailand.
The topic of endotoxins in aquaculture
is a multifaceted discussion. Although
the harmful effects of various toxins
resulting from algae blooming are
well-noted, the impact of endotoxins
originating from gram-negative
bacteria in the digestive tract of
aquatic species is still largely ignored.
True: Some authors claim that
aquatic species are not as susceptible
to endotoxins as higher vertebrates,
while others even recommend the use
of endotoxins as immunostimulants
to increase the resilience of fish
to pathogens. However, this is a
risky procedure. Several results in
aquatic species are in line with the
damaging effects of endotoxins in
all livestock species and show that
endotoxins have immunological and
pathological effects in aquatic
species. In other words, there is
good evidence of an often undiscovered
and underestimated influencing factor
that sabotages the performance
of aquatic animals just as it does
that of farm animals. And the
name of this stealthy saboteur is
endotoxins.
What are endotoxins?
In intensive aquaculture, high-performing
animals are fed energy- and protein-rich
diets to meet their requirements. These
diets result in a shift towards gramnegative
bacteria in the microflora of the
gastrointestinal tract and, ultimately, to
the accumulation of endotoxins.
Subsequently, endotoxins are absorbed
through the intestinal wall and
transported to the liver. If the level
of endotoxins exceeds the liver’s capacity
to detoxify them, endotoxins trigger
heavy immune reactions in the animals.
Consequently, feed efficiency can
decline by up to 27 %. This is because
the immune reactions triggered by
endotoxins cost a lot of energy - energy
that is no longer available for growth and
performance.
An innovative solution developed by
Dr. Eckel Animal Nutrition supports
aquatic animals against the negative
effects of endotoxins. The product by
the name of Anta ® Catch reduces the
number of free endotoxins in the
gastrointestinal tract, supports the gut
barrier by its prebiotic components
and supports the liver with phytogenic
Anta ® Catch: Inhibiting endotoxins
in shrimp
During this trial, a total of 1,000 Pacific
white shrimp (initial size 3–5g) were
kept for 30 days. Shrimp in the control
groups were challenged with either no
endotoxins (AC; 0 µg/L) or high
(LPSAC; 100 µg/L) endotoxin dosage.
Diets of treatment groups were fed 100
or 1000g/t Anta ® Catch (AC100 or
1000). The survival rate was determined
every 10 days. Shrimp were weighed on
day 30. At the end of trial 2, data on
survival rate and FCR was statistically
compared using t-test.
Feeding
groups
Endotoxins
Anta ® Catch
(g/t)
AC100 0 øg/L 100
AC1000 0 øg/L 1000
LPSAC100 100 øg/L 100
LPSAC1000 100 øg/L 1000
Table 1:
Feeding groups in the trial
Results showed that endotoxins
decreased the survival rate of shrimp by
up to 28 % (p