Development of
IGY-based immunoprophylaxis in poultry: a novel approach for epidemic prevention
Dutta Debashis, Arrolla Lekha and Veldanda Saikumar
Res. J. Biotech.; Vol. 21(1); 216-223;
doi: https://doi.org/10.25303/211rjbt2160223; (2026)
Abstract
The poultry industry is increasingly challenged by infectious diseases caused by
pathogens such as Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., Enterococcus spp. and Clostridium
perfringens. The use of antibiotics to control these infections has led to the emergence
of antibiotic-resistant strains, necessitating alternative approaches. This study
aimed to develop an efficient method for producing high-quality IgY antibodies from
egg yolks of hens immunized with a bacterial consortium of these pathogens. Two
antigen concentrations, 1:1:1:1 and 3:3:1:1, were used to immunize laying hens and
eggs were collected post-25 days for IgY extraction and purification.
Bacterial antigens were prepared and characterized before immunization. Egg yolks
were isolated and IgY antibodies were extracted using a series of steps involving
polyethylene glycol (PEG) precipitation and dialysis. The protein concentration
of the purified IgY was measured photometrically at 280 nm, yielding a consistent
concentration of 9.3268 mg/ml for both antigen concentrations. SDS-PAGE analysis
confirmed the presence of IgY with the expected molecular weight. The results demonstrate
that IgY antibodies can be efficiently produced against a consortium of common poultry
pathogens using the outlined methodology. The consistent protein concentration and
successful characterization by SDS-PAGE highlight the reproducibility and reliability
of the extraction process.
