Egg yolk IgY antibodies: A therapeutic intervention against group A rotavirus in calves

• Published in: Research in veterinary science 2015-12, Vol.103, p.1-10
• Main Authors: Vega, C., Bok, M., Saif, L., Fernandez, F., Parreño, V.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Antibiotics; Bacterial infections; Bovine; Cattle; Cattle Diseases - immunology; Cattle Diseases - prevention & control; Cattle Diseases - virology; Chicken antibodies; Chickens; Colostrum - chemistry; Dairy farms; Dairy industry; Diarrhea - immunology; Diarrhea - prevention & control; Diarrhea - veterinary; Diarrhea - virology; Egg Yolk - chemistry; Eggs; Group a rotavirus; IgY; Immunoglobulins; Immunoglobulins - pharmacology; Male; Milk; Passive immunity; Powders - administration & dosage; Rotavirus; Rotavirus - drug effects; Rotavirus Infections - immunology; Rotavirus Infections - prevention & control; Rotavirus Infections - veterinary; Rotavirus Infections - virology; Salmonella; Veterinary medicine; Virus Shedding - drug effects; Viruses
• ISSN: 0034-5288; 1532-2661
• DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2015.09.005

Bovine group A rotavirus (RVA) is considered the major cause of diarrhea in intensively reared neonatal calves. Chicken egg yolk antibodies (IgY) are efficient in protecting neonatal calves from RVA diarrhea; however, the value of this intervention in calves once diarrhea has appeared is unclear. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the application of RVA-specific IgY as a passive treatment in those cases. The experimental groups were: G1=RVA-specific IgY treatment; G2=no Ab treatment; and G3=colostrum deprived+no Ab treatment. IgY treatment significantly reduced virus shedding, diarrhea duration and severity compared to G2 and G3 calves. However, it caused a partial suppression of systemic Ab responses to RVA that could be associated with less severe diarrhea. The oral treatment with IgY for 7days was associated with significantly higher antibody secreting cell responses in the calves compared with other groups of animals. •Neonatal calf diarrhea is a critical problem and passive therapy with IgY Abs is a way to control it.•There are no solid studies using rotavirus specific IgY Abs once calves suffer from diarrhea.•We provide here scientific information regarding the effects of IgY-based products.•This information is critical considering that IgY Abs are being sold in several countries.•We prove the therapeutic value of IgY-based treatment and the industrialization of this product.