Passive immunization
using purified IgYs against infectious bursal disease of chickens
in Pakistan
Muhammad Wasif Malik, Najma Ayub, Irfan Zia Qureshi*
Department of Biological
Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad P.O.Box 45320, Pakistan.
irfanzia@qau.edu.pk
Infectious bursal disease (IBD)is an acute
and highly contagious disease of young chickens caused by
Birnavirus. Mortality of infected birds can be best prevented
if injected with antibodies.The present study was an attempt
to raise specific hyper-immune polyclonal antibodies against
IBD virus in Pakistan.Commercial layers divided into four
groups were injected with IBD vaccine subcutaneously according
to four different treatment regimens.Eggs were collected
daily and antibodies were purified from yolk with dextran
sulphate.Titers of antibodies in serum and yolk were evaluated
with enzyme linked immunosorbant assay and agar gel precipitation
test.Antibody titers were significantly higher in yolk than
serum.Eggs collected at 28 days post-vaccination had maximum
antibody titers. Of treatment regimens, T 3 was found to
be most effective for hyperimmunization.Lyophilized antibodies
stored at 4 oC did not lose their activity till
the end of experiment.IBD virus infected birds were injected
with purified antibodies
which induced 92%recovery as compared to control birds.