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Protective matrix of acidifier for sustainable acidification in poultry to overcome antibiotic resistance

Published: December 14, 2022
By: ABTL Enzymes. Contact: Sumit Sipany
Introduction
High levels of production and efficient feed conversion are the need of the modern livestock industry which to a certain extent could be achieved by using specific feed additives. Feed additives are of great interest in the poultry industry due to their property to promote growth and performance. Common feed additives used in poultry diets include antibiotics, antioxidants, emulsifiers, binders, pH control agents and enzymes. Antibiotic feed additives as growth promoters have long been supplemented to poultry feed to stabilize the intestinal microbial flora, improve the general performances, and prevent some specific intestinal pathology. However, because of the growing concern over the transmission and proliferation of resistant bacteria via the food chain, the European Union (EU) in 2006 banned antibiotic growth promoters to be used as additives in animal nutrition.
Antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs) and antibiotic resistance are closely related, this compelled researchers to explore the utility of other nontherapeutic alternatives like enzymes, probiotics, prebiotics, herbs, essential oils, immunostimulants and organic acids as feed additives in poultry production. The focus of alternative strategies has been to prevent proliferation of pathogenic bacteria and modulation of indigenous bacteria so that the health, immune status, and performance are improved. Feed acidifiers unequivocally satisfy the required criteria.
Feed acidifiers which are natural growth promoters, are acids included in feeds to lower the pH of the feed, gut, and microbial cytoplasm thereby inhibiting the growth of pathogenic intestinal microflora. Acidifiers can be organic/inorganic acids or associated salts that are added to the poultry feed to exert their antimicrobial action both in the feed and in the GI-tract. Organic acids have been identified as best alternative to antibiotic growth promoters by optimising the pH of gut, increasing the digestibility of the several minerals and thus increasing the performance of poultry economically.
Protective matrix of acidifier for sustainable acidification in poultry to overcome antibiotic resistance
Antibiotic Growth Promoter (AGPs):
The term AGP is used to describe any medicine that destroys or inhibits bacteria and is administered at a low or subtherapeutic dose. The AGP are used to help the growing animal to digest their food more efficiently, get maximum benefit from it and allow them to develop into strong and healthy individual.
Proposed Mechanism of AGPs:
At least four mechanisms have been proposed as explanations of antibiotic mediated growth enhancement:
1. Inhibition of sub-clinical infections
2. Reduction of growth-depressing microbial metabolites
3. Reduction of microbial use of nutrients
4. Enhanced uptake and use of nutrients through the thinner intestinal wall associated with antibiotic-fed animals.
Summary of Physiological, Nutritional and Metabolic Effects of Antibiotic Growth Promoter
Summary of Physiological, Nutritional and Metabolic Effects of Antibiotic Growth Promoter
The curse of AGPs:
Apart from the advantageous impact of AGPs, it has some drawbacks also. The major drawback of AGPs is emergence of antibiotic resistant bacteria. The situation is grave and is cause of concern for human health, as it will leads to emergence of antibiotic resistant bacteria in human.
Organic Acids: An Alternate to AGPs:
Several alternatives have been proposed to replace AGPs, common alternatives applied in broiler diets are prebiotics, probiotics and organic acids. Organic acids are weak acids, which when used singularly or in combination, will kill pathogenic microbes, reduce the pH and acidify the gut. The protective matrix of these acids is determined by their pKa value. The pKa is the negative log of the acid dissociation constant or Ka value and used to indicate the strength of an acid. Lower the pKa value, more stronger is the acid. That is, the lower value indicates the acid more fully dissociates in water.
Table showing effects of organic acids and salts in poultry nutrition
Table showing effects of organic acids and salts in poultry nutrition
Organic Acids and it's Mechanism of Action
Organic Acids and it
Organic Acid in the intestine Organic
Acid are natural component of the GI environment. In broiler chickens, typical total SCFA concentrations have been reported to be in the range of 2-12 and 40-100 µmol/g digesta in the small intestine and caeca (Rehman et al., 2007).
Organic Acid & Intestinal Morphology:
Organic acid has a positive influence on intestinal morphology, as they increase the length of villi, so more absorptive surface area are for greater absorption of digesta.
Organic acid on Immune system.
It is said that major portion of immunity is in gut, the interaction of organic acid with gut microbiota positively influences the gut associated lymphoid tissue. It's been observed that addition of organic acids in feed improves the resistance to pathogen, vaccine response/ protection and general health beyond the intestine
The overall benefit of Acidifier is far greater in comparison to AGP, since the acids used are weak acid the safety margin during handling and consumption are also high. Keeping all the advantages of acidifier over AGPs, Aciplex was formulated.
Aciplex: Aciplex is an innovative poultry feed acidifier based on synergistically combination of organic acids and their salts such as Fumaric acid, Citric acid, Calcium propionate, Sodium citrate & Sodium formate. is having non corrosive and non-stringent properties.
Aciplex components and their properties
Aciplex components and their properties
Effect of Aciplex on different microbes
Effect of Aciplex on different microbes
Role in Feed Hygiene
Related topics:
Authors:
Sumit Sipany
ABTL Advanced Bio-Agro Tech Ltd
ABTL Advanced Bio-Agro Tech Ltd
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Luc Goethals
Sanluc International nv
25 de julio de 2023
Thanks for the valid and professional input. I do fully agree.
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Luc Goethals
Sanluc International nv
21 de julio de 2023

Dear Dr. Rajendra,


Thanks for your adequate feedback and clarifications.

I can't more than agree with some of your statements such as the feed preservation efficacy of propionic and formic acid: in fact "decontaminants" rather than "organic acids". And for sure, since decennia most industrial preservatives have been based on propionic and formic acid and their salts and are abundantly used. But these had always to be in "available" and "reactive" form. If out of the 1 to 4 kg dosage the majority will reach the intestine, then the decontamination effect in the feed, stomach might be neglectable.

Indeed formic acid with strong biocidal effect has been used to decontaminate raw materials and feed from pathogens, also for Salmonella, but once again all in active unprotected form and at significantly higher dosages. While the scientific world has come to a consensus that formic acid in the G.I.T. is promoting gene expression, attachment and invasion of Salmonella. It's easy to surf on internet for those publications. The last thing one should consider is to bring formic acid in the intestine. On top at the higher (intestinal) pH, formic is no more anti-bacterial (Lückstadt et Al)

Thanks for answering 2 of my 3 questions, the first one remaining open. During my 40+ years of professional career, I never came across a scientific study documenting synergy between organic acids and salts, the maximum obtained was some additivity.

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Luc Goethals
Sanluc International nv
16 de julio de 2023

Thanks for this information, interesting, but revealing a lot of questions or request for more detailed information.

1) Could you document the synergism between the organic acids and salts you are using in your product? Meaning each time the individual effect at the used level and then the various combinations?
2) What is the dosage you recommend and what is the level and concentration you are reaching in the small intestine via your protective matrix system?
3) Since the ingredients are protected and not soluble, does this mean that the product has no single activity in the feed and the stomach. Acidification of feed and stomach is essential.

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Sumit Sipany
ABTL Advanced Bio-Agro Tech Ltd
ABTL Advanced Bio-Agro Tech Ltd
10 de junio de 2023

The organic acids and their salts or simply acidifiers play an important role in gut health in animals. The acidifiers could be used to favourably manipulate the intestinal microbial populations, improve the immune response, and perform a bactericidal activity in countering pathogenic bacteria. Acidifiers also improve the digestibility and absorption of nutrients. However, their effect will not be similar among all types of organic acids as their mechanism of activity is based on its pKa value.
Acidifiers with their potent applications helps in improving nutrient digestibility, mineral utilization, meat quality, enhancing immunity, antimicrobial effects in countering pathogenic bacteria, boosting performance and production, and thus safeguarding health of birds.

Use ACIPLEX product of ABTL for optimized acidification to amplify growth performance of birds.

Features:-
1. A synergistically acting combination of organic acids and acid salts having non-corrosive and non-stringent properties.
2. Innovative acidifier, consisting of organic acids in a protective matrix that reduces the solubility of the acids, ensuring that they are released throughout the entire gastro-intestinal tract.
3. Safe and easy handling as well as fast and homogenous mixing in the feed.
4. No development of antibiotic resistance.
5. No withdrawal time.

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