Egg Yolk Antibodies (IgY) in Routine Diagnostic Work

According to Linscott"s Directory of Immunological and Biological Reagents (1994/95) the commercial availability of egg-yolk antibodies (IgY) is extremely low. For preparation, cleaning and detection of IgY it would be of advantage to have a "Protein Y" available analogous to protein A and protein G for mammalian antibodies. Until now, the search for "Protein Y" was unsuccessful. IgY has been used for routine diagnostic work covering the following subjects: 1.Identification of the host species from abdominal blood of haematophageous insects; 2.IgY-anti-horse-Ig-PO conjugate for ELISA on dourine; 3.FITC-conjugated IgY-antirabies for diagnostic work on rabies; 4.FITC-conjugated IgY against avian virus diseases (Newcastle dis., Infectious bronchitis, Gumboro). In all cases satisfactory results have been achieved.