Application of chicken egg yolk immunoglobulins in the control of terrestrial and aquatic animal diseases: A review

Abstract

Oral administration of chicken egg yolk immunoglobulin (IgY) has attracted considerable attention as a means of controlling infectious diseases of bacterial and viral origin. Oral administration of IgY possesses many advantages compared with mammalian IgG including cost-effectiveness, convenience and high yield. This review presents an overview of the potential to use IgY immunotherapy for the prevention and treatment of terrestrial and aquatic animal diseases and speculates on the future of IgY technology. Included are a review of the potential application of IgY for the treatment of livestock diseases such as mastitis and diarrhea, poultry diseases such as Salmonella, Campylobacteriosis, infectious bursal disease and Newcastle disease, as well as aquatic diseases like shrimp white spot syndrome virus, Yersina ruckeri and Edwardsiella tarda. Some potential obstacles to the adoption of IgY technology are also discussed.

Anti-Pseudomonas aeruginosaIgY antibodies promote bacterial opsonization and augment the phagocytic activity of polymorphonuclear neutrophils

“…Treatment and prevention of infections in various animal species with IgY have been assessed in several studies. 27 Human clinical studies on the efficacy of prophylactic IgY therapy have primarily targeted gastrointestinal infections. Oral pathogens causing dental caries, 28 periodontitis 29 and oral candidiasis 30 have been successfully reduced with pathogen-specific IgY.…”

Preparation of egg yolk antibodies against BoNT/B and their passive protection in mouse models

“…6,7 In addition, oral administration of the specific IgY has been proved to be effective against a variety of gastrointestinal intoxication. 8 Thus, the specific IgY has been recognized as an economical source for the clinical treatment.…”

IgYs as an Alternative Approach to Antibiotics

“…Wherefore we can distinguish several strategies for using IgYs in host protection: 1) agglutination of bacteria, 2) inhibition of bacterial adhesion, 3) suppression of virulence factors, 4) toxin neutralization, 5) enzyme inactivation [42]. The process of chicken immunization can be influenced by the following factors: antigenicity of the immunogen, type of adjuvant, route of antigen delivery, frequency of administration, avian properties (breed, age, egg lying capacity).…”

“…The process of chicken immunization can be influenced by the following factors: antigenicity of the immunogen, type of adjuvant, route of antigen delivery, frequency of administration, avian properties (breed, age, egg lying capacity). One hen is able to produce ~22.5 grams of IgYs per year (with up to 10% specific antibodies), which is equivalent to one year production of antibodies by 4.3 rabbits [42,43]. IgY technology is an effective way to provide immunity against a wide range of pathogens, which might be able to reduce or possibly replace the use of antibiotics in clinics and industry, and provide successful prevention, treatment, or growth enhancement overtaking the problem of increasing antibiotic resistance.…”