Reduction of TNF-α in randomly selected horses

Key Points:

Feeding Camas Anti-Endotoxin Antibodies greatly reduces TNF-a in an everyday pasture setting and its effects are amplified after a stress event.

TNF-a was reduced by as much as 55% compared to those horses that did not receive Camas Anti-Endotoxin Antibodies following a stress event.

Camas Anti Endotoxin Antibodies have broad binding coverage across all gram-negative bacteria.

It has long been understood that tumor necrosis factor (TNF) plays a crucial part in a body’s inflammatory response. As a cytokine, TNF is associated with the regulation of immune cells by cell signaling. An important trigger for a pro-inflammatory cytokine response is endotoxin. Endotoxin is a polysaccharide found in the cell wall of gram-negative bacteria. This toxin is released after cell lysis in the gut and migrates trans-intestinally into the blood. Endotoxin levels are impacted by events such as stress, nutrition, and antibiotic use. Endotoxin concentration directly impacts TNF, and at certain levels. may result in systemic inflammation and/or endotoxemia. We at Camas have developed an anti-endotoxin antibody that has been shown, with the help of Dr. Jessica Leatherwood, to reduce the amount of TNF in equine both in everyday use and after a stress event. We choose to partner with Dr. Jessica Leatherwood due to her vast and reputable knowledge in equine health and management.

“Immunoglobulin Y elicits positive effects in domestic livestock with gastrointestinal or inflammatory diseases; however, there are limited studies in horses. To test the hypothesis that dietary anti-endotoxin IgY (IgY) has a positive effect on gastrointestinal health and mitigates systemic inflammation in horses undergoing exercise, 30 stock-type horses (578‡59 kg BW; 1413 yr) were used in a completely randomized design. Horses were stratified by BW, age, and sex and then randomly assigned to treatments: 0 g/d IgY (CON; n=10), 1 g/d IgY (TRTI; n=10), and 2 g/d IgY (TRT2; n=10). Horses were fed twice daily, every 12 h, with dietary treatments (Camas, Inc., Le Center, MN) top-dressed on the morning concentrate for 33 d. Horses were maintained in dry lots with ad libitum access to Coastal Bermudagrass Hay. Horses were exercised 5 d/wk for I h. On d 0 and 30, BW and BCS were recorded, and blood was collected for complete blood cell count (CBC) and serum blood chemistry. On d 32, horses were transported 270 km and underwent a 3.2 km exercise stressor on concrete at a walk with maximum 15 min of trot.” (Gilcrest, 2023). Blood was drawn at three time points: Pre-trailering

(before movement to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo), Post-trailering (immediately after returning), and 24 hours post trail- ering (24 hours after returning).