MLBA11: October / November 2009
Egg yolk IgY antibodies against avian coccidiosis infections
Avian coccidiosis is an intestinal disease caused by several distinct species of Eimeria protozoa and is the most economically significant parasitic infection of the poultry industry worldwide.
Due to increasing concerns with prophylactic drug use and high costs of vaccines, alternative control methods need to be developed. Therefore, much recent interest has been devoted towards the development of drug-independent control strategies against coccidiosis.
An alternative control strategy potentially applicable to intestinal diseases such as avian coccidiosis, may involve a passive immunisation strategy using hyperimmune, pathogen-specific secretory IgY antibodies. For example, egg yolk IgY antibodies offer a practicable alternative to mammalian serum antibodies because of their feasibility for large-scale commercial production and the relative non-invasive methods used for their preparation.
The above are excerpts, full versions are only available in MEAT & LIVESTOCK Business Asia. For subscriptions enquiries, e-mail membership@efeedlink.com
