IgY production in egg yolk against Salmonella typhimurium and salmonella enteritidis

Salmonella is a Gram-negative, anaerobic, flagellated bacterium of Salmonella type in Enterobacteriaceae family, which is known as a zoonosis infectious agent. In recent years, different types of antibiotics have been used to overcome the Salmonella infection; however, the increasing number of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, the provision of alternative methods seems be necessary. Specific immunoglobulin Y (IgY) originated from egg yolk causes passive immunity in the fetus, and extracting these antibodies from egg yolk is cheaper and more feasible than other antibodies. Numerous studies have shown that the egg yolk IgY has immunogenic function against a wide range of bacterial and viral infections in mammals. The purpose of this study was to produce specific immunoglobulin Y against Salmonella typhimurium and Salmonella enteritidis bacteria in laying hens.

 In the current study, six pullets were inoculated and boosted with one milliliter of killed Salmonella typhimurium and Salmonella enteritidis. Injections were done fortnightly until one week before egg production. After breast muscle injection of chickens, the eggs were collected, and the IgY was extracted from yolk by the Polson method with polyethylene glycol 6000. The produced IgY was approved by SDS-PAGE method. The specific indirect ELISA done by specificity test for purified IgY also approved the specific IgY against both Salmonella typhimurium and Salmonella enteritidis.

The results of SDS - PAGE demonstrated the presence of two protein bands of 27 and 67 kDa representing light and heavy chains of IgY, respectively. The specific indirect ELISA method proved that the specific IgY against Salmonella typhimurium and Salmonella enteritidis was produced in the egg yolk.    

 It might be possible to administer the egg yolk containing specific IgY against both Salmonella typhimurium and Salmonella enteritidis, to induce passive immunity for preventing some pathogenic diseases in calves such as diarrhea.