Endotoxins and Their Negative Impact on Poultry
GLOBAL - Endotoxins, present everywhere in a broiler’s environment, pose a genuine threat that can impair immune system and performance. A multi-strategy (myco)toxin risk management solution can counteract both endotoxins and mycotoxins.
2 August 2016
2 minute read
By: Endotoxins are part of the outer membrane of the cell wall of all Gram-negative bacteria (e.g. E. coli, Salmonella, Shigella, Pseudomonas) that are released from bacterial cell walls by shedding or through bacterial lysis.
These toxins, also called lipopolysaccharides (LPS) because of their structure, consist of a lipid and a polysaccharide (Figure 1). While there are many natural sources of endotoxins, for example, air, dust, food, water, and faeces, the major source is the gastrointestinal tract.
