Effect of passive immunization by anti-gingipain IgY on periodontal health of dogs

Abstract

Anti-gingipain IgY (IgY-GP), known as hyperimmune γ-livetin from egg yolk, inhibits the enzyme activity, growth and adherence of Porphyromonas gingivalis to gingival epithelial cells. Our objective was to evaluate the efficacy of IgY-GP on periodontal health of dogs. IgY-GP was prepared from the egg yolk of hens immunized with the gingipain from Porphyromonas gingivalis ATCC 33277. Two in vivo trial models were conducted on 15 adult dogs with periodontitis by giving IgY-GP-supplemented dog feed for 8 weeks and direct application of the IgY in dental ointment to the periodontal pockets at weekly interval for 4 weeks. Clinical parameters including gingivitis, periodontitis, oral health index, bleeding on probe (BOP), pocket depth (PD), and dental calculus removal pattern for selected premolar teeth were recorded at baseline, 4 and 8 weeks post treatment.IgY-GP showed strong crossreactivity with gingipain from Porphyromonas gulae and inhibited the enzyme activity in vitro. In the dog trials, IgY-GP resulted in significant improvement of oral health parameters including gingivitis and periodontitis scores, BOP, dental calculus removal. No adverse events during and after antibody applications were noted. Oral immunotherapy by using IgY-GP is a new promising alternative to conventional preventive and therapeutic methods to improve oral health status in dogs.

Effects of Passive Immunization by Anti-Gingipain IgY on the Oral Health of Cats Fed Kibble Diets

“…Also, it is possible that the IgY may not penetrate deep into periodontal pockets. 20 Porphyromonas gingivalis is an anaerobic gram-negative bacteria and the periodontal pocket is the ideal environment for its proliferation. 32 This can be a possible explanation for the lack of reduction in the relative abundance of P gingivalis.…”

“…Additionally, the authors reported that dividing the amount of IgY-GP into 2 daily meals, the effect is lower than in 1 daily meal. 20 Cats received an average of 46.5 mg of IgY-GP/kg BW, but the food was available during consecutive 16 hours and they presented high food intake during the first 2 hours (approximately 23.5 mg of IgY-GP/kg BW), with small consumption during the remaining period (approximately 3.3 mg of IgY-GP/ kg BW each 2 hours). This might explain the lack of reduction in the majority of oral health parameters.…”

“…18,19 Anti-gingipain IgY has a cross-reactivity with the same enzyme expressed by P gulae and protects various cell lines from damages by the enzymes expressed by both P gingivalis and P gulae, and therefore, it is conceivable that this cross-reactivity may have therapeutic potential in cats since it could target other Porphyromonas species commonly found in the oral cavity of cats. 20 Positive results with the use of IgY in the oral health of humans and dogs have been reported, but no studies including cats have been found by the authors. 19,20 The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of consumption of kibble diet coated with IgY-GP on P gingivalis count, dental plaque index, dental calculus index, and gingivitis index of cats with PD.…”

“…20 Positive results with the use of IgY in the oral health of humans and dogs have been reported, but no studies including cats have been found by the authors. 19,20 The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of consumption of kibble diet coated with IgY-GP on P gingivalis count, dental plaque index, dental calculus index, and gingivitis index of cats with PD.…”

The Use of Egg and Egg Compounds in Companion Animal Health

“…Plaque, a microbial biofilm, is recognized as a main etiological agent for periodontal disease [138]. The oral immunotherapy by using anti-gingipain IgY has been reported to improve significantly periodontal health of dogs when applied directly into some periodontal pockets in the form of ointment [139]. Anti-gingipain IgY was obtained from the egg yolk of hens immunized with gingipain, a protease from Phorphyromonas gingivalis, which Sharifiqur et al [139] considered to be a major periodontal pathogen, based on data obtained with humans, mice and rats.…”