Methods and compositions for the inhibition of growth of infectious Aspergillus fumigatus and other mycotic organisms in the gut of mammalian and avian species

Abstract

A method for the prevention and treatment of fungal infections and, therefore, consequent invasive mycosis in mammalian and avian species is described. The invention comprises a combination of β-1,3(4)-endoglucanohydrolase, β-1,3(4)glucan, diatornaceous earth, mineral clay, and glucomannan, which is fed to or consumed by mammalian or avian species in amounts sufficient to inhibit enteric fungal colonization in the gut and consequent mycosis. The invention described may be admixed with feeds or foods, incorporated into pelleted feeds or foods or administered orally to mammalian and avian species.

1 . A composition comprising a combination of β-glucans, β-1,3(4)-endoglucanohydrolase, calcined diatomaceous earth, a mineral clay, and glucomannan is admixed in foods and animal feeds thereby inhibiting fungal growth in the food, feedstuff or digesta of mammalian and avian species, thereby reducing susceptibility to a mycotic colonization of the digestive tract and invasive mycoses.  
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the infecting fungal species includes one of the following fungal genera:  Aspergillus, Aureobasidium, Candida, Eupenicillium, Eurotium, Fusarium, Mucor, Penicillium, Rachiborskiomyce.    
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the infectious organism is a member of the  Aspergillus  genera.  
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the infectious organism is  Aspergillus fumigatus.    
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the mineral clay product is montmorillonite, bentonite, aluminosilicate, or zeolite clays, or mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the β-1,3(4)-endoglucanohydrolase is produced from submerged fermentation of  Trichoderma longibrachialum.    
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the β-glucans and glucomannan are derived from boiling and enzyme autolysis of gram positive yeast cell walls from the genera of  Saccharomyces.    
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 7 , wherein the β-glucans and glucomannan are derived from boiling and enzyme autolysis of gram positive yeast cell walls from  Saccharomyces cerevisiae.    
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the diatomaceous earth is calcined at a minimum temperature of 900° C.  
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises between 15% and 40% diatomaceous earth, between 50% and 81% mineral clay, between 1.0% and 5.0% β-glucans, between 0.05% and 3.0% β-1,3(4)-endoglucanohydrolase and between 1% and 8.0% glucomannan.  
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises between 20% and 30% diatomaceous earth, between 60% and 75% mineral clay, between 1.0% and 3.5% β-glucans, between 0.1% and 3.0% β-1,3(4)-endoglucanohydrolase and between 1.0% and 6.0% glucomannan.  
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the combination of diatomaceous earth, a mineral clay, β-1,3(4)-endoglucanohydrolase, β-glucan and glucomannan is admixed into foods or animal feedstuffs in a concentration of between 0.0125% and 5% by weight for the purpose of inhibiting fungal growth in feed, food or digesta.  
     
     
         13 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said composition is admixed into a food or feedstuff and is subsequently fed to domestic livestock.  
     
     
         14 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said composition is admixed into a food or feedstuff and is subsequently feed to ruminant livestock.  
     
     
         15 . The composition of  claim 1 , whereas said composition reduces mycotic colonization of feeds, foods and the gastrointestinal tract.