Abstract
Aim:This study was undertaken to compare the immunoglobulin Y (IgY) level and its efficacy in laying hens of four different breeds of poultry (viz., Vanraja, Gramapriya, BlackRock, and KalingaBrown) and its relative transfer in egg yolk and chick.Materials and Methods:This study was conducted in 48 apparently healthy laying hens vaccinated with Salmonella inactivated polyvalent vaccine, eggs and progeny chicks; 12 each from four different breeds of poultry, viz., Vanraja, Gramapriya, BlackRock, and KalingaBrown. The methodology included measurement of egg and yolk weight, total protein and IgY in egg yolk, total serum protein and IgY in breeding hens, and progeny chicks and extent of IgY transfer from hens to yolk then to chicks. Further, Salmonella-specific antibodies in breeding hens, egg yolk and progeny chicks were assessed using O and H antigen by tube agglutination test.Results:The egg weight differed nonsignificantly (p>0.05) among breeds, however, breed wise significant variation (p<0.01) was reported in yolk weight. The weight of egg yolk significantly affects the total protein and IgY concentration although these levels per unit of volume did not differ. Total protein was significantly higher (p<0.01) in KalingaBrown and Gramapriya as compared to Vanraja and BlackRock. Non-significant (p>0.05) difference among breed was found in total protein of egg yolk and chick. The IgY concentration in hens, egg yolk and chick was found to be in the range of 5.35±0.63-5.83±0.65, 2.3±0.1-2.6±0.2, and 1.3±0.11-1.7±0.16 mg/ml, respectively which is uniform and independent of total protein concentration at all the three levels. Significant breed variations were not observed in maternal IgY transfer from breeding hens to chicks and were 25.62±1.42-36.06±4.34% of total IgY in parent flock. Moderate to higher rate of seroprevalence with peak titers of 1:640 against Salmonella-specific antibodies was observed in only 41.6% of breeding hens.Conclusion:No significant difference in the rate of transfer of IgY was observed in four breeds studied (viz., Vanraja, Gramapriya, BlackRock, and KalingaBrown) and moderate seropositivity was detected for Salmonella-specific antibodies in progeny chicks.
Highlights
Chicken of all age groups are susceptible to many pathogens if innate immune response by maternal antibody transfer and/or active immune response by foreign materials are not evoked at its full potential [1]
Non-significant (p>0.05) difference among breed was found in total protein of egg yolk and chick
The immunoglobulin Y (IgY) concentration in hens, egg yolk and chick was found to be in the range of 5.35±0.635.83±0.65, 2.3±0.1-2.6±0.2, and 1.3±0.11-1.7±0.16 mg/ml, respectively which is uniform and independent of total protein concentration at all the three levels
Summary
Chicken of all age groups are susceptible to many pathogens if innate immune response by maternal antibody transfer and/or active immune response by foreign materials (vaccine) are not evoked at its full potential [1]. Advanced poultry production practice promises full protection by immunization which is cleverly designed by a combination of breeder hen vaccination and active immunization of chicks at appropriate age during early life. Immunoglobulin (Ig)-secreting B cells of chick origin have been detected in circulation after 6 days post-hatch [2], meaning that during the first days of the post-hatching period, humoral immunity is totally dependent on the maternal transfer of Igs. In the domestic chicken, 3 classes of Igs have been identified as the homologs of mammalian IgM, IgA, and IgG. Contrary to mammals, who after birth may obtain maternal antibodies in the colostrums, all of the maternal Igs needed to protect the newly hatched chick must be incorporated into the egg before it is laid
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
