Comparison of the limulus amebocyte lysate test and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for measuring lipopolysaccharides (endotoxins) in airborne dust from poultry-processing industries.
The lipopolysaccharide (endotoxin) content in airborne dust samples from three different poultry slaughterhouses was determined with both the chromogenic Limulus amebocyte lysate assay and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of lipopolysaccharide-derived 3-hydroxy fatty acids. Gram-negative cell walls were also measured by using two-dimensional gas chromatography/electron-capture analysis of diaminopimelic acid originating from the peptidoglycan. The correlation between the results of the Limulus assay and those of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for determination of the lipopolysaccharide content in the dust samples was poor, whereas a good correlation was obtained between lipopolysaccharide and diaminopimelic acid concentrations with the gas chromatographic methods. The results suggest that it is predominantly cell-wall-dissociated lipopolysaccharides that are measured with the Limulus assay, whereas the gas chromatographic methods allow determination of total concentrations of lipopolysaccharide, including Limulus-inactive lipopolysaccharide, gram-negative cells, and cellular debris.
Sonesson
A
A
Department of Technical Analytical Chemistry, Lund University, Sweden.
Larsson
L
L
Schütz
A
A
Hagmar
L
L
Hallberg
T
T
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000032:analysis*; D000818:Animals; D003960:Diaminopimelic Acid / Q000032:analysis; D004391:Dust / Q000032:analysis*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000032:analysis; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D007221:Industry; D008033:Limulus Test; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000032:analysis*; D011200:Poultry
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D004391:Dust; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D003960:Diaminopimelic Acid