REVIEW article
Front. Physiol.
Sec. Aquatic Physiology
Volume 16 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fphys.2025.1701782
This article is part of the Research TopicNutritional Metabolism and Immunity of Aquatic AnimalsView all 12 articles
Application of IgY Antibodies in Passive Immunization of Aquaculture Animals
Provisionally accepted
- 1Hebei Normal University of Science and Technology, Qinhuangdao, China
- 2Dalian Ocean University College of Fisheries and Life Sciences, Dalian, China
- 3Zaozhuang Animal Husbandry and Fishery Development Cente, Zaozhuang, China
- 4China Agricultural University Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Food Nutrition and Human Health, Beijing, China
- 5China Agricultural University Key Laboratory of Precision Nutrition and Food Quality Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
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Chicken Egg Yolk Immunoglobulin (IgY) is a specific antibody found in egg yolk, offering several advantages, including low production cost, pollution-free processing, and no drug resistance. IgY as a passive immuno-therapy agent in the field of aquaculture, the focus is on the prevention and control of common aquatic diseases, including vibriosis (Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Vibrio harveyi, Vibrio splendidus), bacterial septicemia (Aer-omonas hydrophila, Aeromonas salmonicida), and viral diseases (Nervous Necrosis Virus, White Spot Syndrome Virus). The administration of specific IgY via feed, oral intake, immersion, or injection has been shown to significantly enhance antibody levels and phagocyte activity in shrimp, fish, sea cucumbers, and other aquatic animals. This approach has been demonstrated to reduce pathogen colonization, enhance immune performance, and decrease infection incidence and mortality rates. In the context of sustainable aquaculture development, IgY has emerged as a significant biological immunomodulator, with the potential to replace traditional antibiotics and control diseases in aquatic animals. This review summarizes the fundamental structure differences from IgG, physicochemical properties, and preparation methods of IgY, with a focus on its passive immunotherapy application progress in disease prevention, treatment, and immunization for freshwa-ter and marine aquaculture animals. Finally, the positive effects of IgY on the quality and safety of aquatic products were discussed, with the aim of conducting in depth research on IgY and its widespread application in aquaculture.
Keywords: IgY antibodies, passive immunization, Aquaculture animals, IgY, Aquaculture
Received: 09 Sep 2025; Accepted: 23 Oct 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Qiu, Wang, Zhang, Wang, Huang and Jin. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Xiao-min Jin, xicom@163.com
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