Passive protective effect of chicken egg yolk immunoglobulins against experimental Vibrio anguillarum infection in ayu (Plecoglossus altivelis).
Oral administration of chicken egg yolk immunoglobulins (IgY) has attracted much attention as a means for controlling infectious diseases caused by microorganisms. This study evaluated the protective effect of IgY against Vibrio anguillarum infection in ayu, Plecoglossus altivelis. IgY was isolated from egg yolks laid by hens initially immunized with formalin-inactivated V. anguillarum. Lower mortality of ayu was observed in groups treated with anti-V. anguillarum IgY (aVIgY), compared with those treated with saline or with nonspecific IgY (nspIgY). All fish in saline-treated groups died within seven days after bacterial inoculation. The bacterial load in blood, liver, and spleen was significantly lower in fish treated with aVIgY than in fish treated with nspIgY. aVIgY treatment significantly reduced tumor necrosis factor-α (PaTNF-α), interleukin-1β (PaIL-1β), transforming growth factor-β (PaTGF-β), and leukocyte cell-derived chemotaxin-2 (PaLECT2) transcript levels in the head kidney, spleen, and liver of ayu challenged by V. anguillarum, compared with nspIgY treatment. The phagocytic activity of macrophages for V. anguillarum in the presence of specific IgY was significantly higher than that seen for nonspecific IgY. These results suggest that passive immunization by oral intubation with pathogen-specific IgY may provide a valuable treatment for V. anguillarum infection in ayu.
Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Marine Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China.
Chang-Hong
CH
Li
Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Marine Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China.
Xin-Jiang
XJ
Lu
Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Marine Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China.
Deng-Feng
DF
Li
Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Marine Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China. Electronic address: jchen1975@163.com.
Jiong
J
Chen
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D004527:Egg Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005393:Fish Diseases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology*; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D036441:Osmeriformes; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D014733:Vibrio / Q000276:immunology*; D014735:Vibrio Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary*
D016207:Cytokines; D017931:DNA Primers; D004527:Egg Proteins; D007136:Immunoglobulins
Bacterial burden; Cytokine gene expression; Macrophage phagocytosis; Plecoglossus altivelis; Yolk immunoglobulin