US 12,031,991 B2
In vitro method for detecting intestinal barrier failure in animals
Monika Flügel, Steinhagen (DE); Stefan Pelzer, Gütersloh (DE); Frank Thiemann, Nottuln (DE); Filip Van Immerseel, Eke (BE); Richard Ducatelle, Wortegem-Petegem (BE); Evy Goossens, Wachtebeke (BE); Bart Devreese, Vosselare (BE); and Griet Debyser, Bruges (BE)
Assigned to Evonik Operations GmbH, Essen (DE)
Appl. No. 16/977,003
Filed by EVONIK OPERATIONS GMBH, Essen (DE)
PCT Filed Feb. 28, 2019, PCT No. PCT/EP2019/054939
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Aug. 31, 2020,
PCT Pub. No. WO2019/166531, PCT Pub. Date Sep. 6, 2019.
Claims priority of application No. 18159632 (EP), filed on Mar. 2, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0003592 A1, Jan. 7, 2021
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G01N 33/68 (2006.01); G01N 33/543 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 33/6893 (2013.01) [G01N 33/543 (2013.01); G01N 33/54306 (2013.01); G01N 33/54388 (2021.08); G01N 2333/79 (2013.01); G01N 2800/06 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
 
1. An in vitro method for detecting and treating intestinal barrier failure in an avian population, the method comprising:
a) detecting intestinal barrier failure by the following steps:
i) collecting a pooled fecal sample derived from the avian population; and
ii) determining the amount of at least one protein marker contained in said sample; wherein:
the at least one protein marker comprises an acute phase protein or a functional fragment thereof; and
an increased amount of said at least one protein marker contained in said sample versus a reference sample indicates intestinal barrier failure; and,
b) treating the avian population that in step a) has been found to have intestinal barrier failure by administering a zootechnical feed additive; wherein the zootechnical feed additive comprises a digestibility enhancer, a gut flora stabilizer; a probiotic agent; a praebiotic agent, a botanical, an organic acid, a fatty acid, a zeolithe, a bacteriophage, a bacteriolytic enzyme or any combination thereof;
and wherein the acute phase protein is selected from the group consisting of: ovotransferrin (OTF); haptoglobin (HAPT or PIT54); C-reactive protein (CRP); ceruloplasmin; fibrinogen; mannan binding lectin; serum amyloid A (SAA); long chain pentraxin (PTX3); and a1 acid glycoprotein (AGP).