Chicken egg yolk antibodies against bovine respiratory syncytial virus neutralize the virus in vitro

Abstract

Bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) and its counterpart in humans (HRSV) are two closely related virus, which are the leading cause of severe respiratory syndrome in calves and young children, respectively. Passive immunization can be a practical alternative to conventional vaccination in order to prevent the disease. In this report the production of chicken egg yolk IgY and its ability to neutralize BRSV in vitro were assessed. Purified IgY against BRSV specifically recognized BRSV in a dot blot assay and was able to neutralize the virus in a viral neutralization assay. These results demonstrate the potential use of IgY as a prophylactic treatment against RSV infection.