Application of egg yolk antibodies as replacement for antibiotics in poultry

The ban of sub-therapeutic antibiotic use in the European Union countries and elsewhere, and recent moves toward removal or reduced use of these compounds in other countries has put pressure on the poultry industry to look for viable alternatives. Available data suggest that specific egg yolk antibodies (EYA) have beneficial effects in prevention or treatment of bacterial and viral infections in humans and different animal species. The number of studies conducted in chickens, however, is quite low compared to other species and this may be a limiting factor in the current use of this technology in the poultry industry. The objectives of this review paper are to discuss how EYA are produced and work, to present examples of their applications in different pathological conditions in chickens, and to address challenges that this technology is currently facing.