Passive protective effect of egg-yolk antibodies against enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli K88+ infection in neonatal and early-weaned piglets.

• Abstract: The protective effects of egg-yolk antibodies obtained from hens immunized with fimbrial antigens from a local strain (Escherichia coli K88+ MB, Manitoba, Canada) of K88+ piliated enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) were evaluated in 3- and 21-day-old piglets in which ETEC diarrhea was induced and also in early-weaned piglets in a commercial farm. The results demonstrated that the E. coli K88+ MB-induced diarrhea in 3-day-old piglets was cured 24 h after treating with egg-yolk antibodies while those treated with egg-yolk powder from conventional hens continued to have diarrhea and 62.5% of them died of severe diarrhea. For 21-day-old weaned piglets, those fed egg-yolk antibodies had transient diarrhea, positive body weight gains and 100% survival during the period of the experiment, whereas control piglets that were treated with placebo had severe diarrhea and dehydration and some died within 48 h after infection. In the field trial, the incidence and severity of diarrhea of 14-18-day-old weaned piglets fed egg-yolk antibodies were much lower than in those fed a commercial diet containing an antibiotic. These results indicate that the neonatal and early-weaned piglets that received the egg-yolk antibodies were protected against ETEC infection.
• Authors: R R Marquardt, L Z Jin, J W Kim, L Fang, A A Frohlich, S K Baidoo (Affiliation: Department of Animal Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada. rr_marquardt at unmanitoba.ca)
• Journal: FEMS immunology and medical microbiology (FEMS Immunol Med Microbiol) Vol. 23 Issue 4 Pg. 283-8 (Apr 1999) ISSN: 0928-8244 [Print] NETHERLANDS
• PMID: 10225287 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antigens, Bacterial
• Antigens, Surface
• Bacterial Vaccines
• Escherichia coli Proteins
• K88 antigen, E coli
• Fimbriae Proteins

Topics

• Animals
• Animals, Newborn
• Antigens, Bacterial (immunology)
• Antigens, Surface (immunology)
• Bacterial Vaccines (immunology)
• Egg Yolk (immunology)
• Escherichia coli (immunology)
• Escherichia coli Infections (prevention & control)
• Escherichia coli Proteins
• Fimbriae Proteins
• Fimbriae, Bacterial (immunology)
• Immunization, Passive (methods)