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

FEMS Immunol Med Microbiol. 1999 Apr;23(4):283-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1574-695X.1999.tb01249.x.

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.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 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

Substances

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