All issues > Volume 48(12); 2005

Original Article

Korean J Pediatr. 2005;48(12):1354-1361. Published online December 15, 2005.

Therapeutic Effect of Anti-Rotavirus Chicken Egg Yolk Immunoglobulin(IgY) on Diarrhea by Infection of Rotavirus

In Seok IS Lim¹, Ho Seok HS Lee¹, Wonyong WY Kim², Eung Sang ES Choi¹, Dong Hyuk DH Jung³, Hoo Kil HK Jung⁴, Sung Seob SS Yun⁴, Ho Nam HN Chun⁴

¹Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Chung Ang University
³Bioindist Co., Ltd., R&D Center, Seoul, Korea
⁴Maeil Dairy Industry Co., Ltd. , Seoul, Korea

Correspondence In Seok IS Lim ,Email: inseok@cau.ac.kr

Abstract

Purpose
: Rotavirus is an enteric pathogen that affects millions of children globally each year. But no specific therapy is available for the management of rotavirus diarrhea. Due to the clear need to define improved modality for treatment of rotavirus diarrhea, we evaluated the efficacy of anti- rotavirus IgY in the treatment of infants and children with gastroenteritis.
Methods
: First, the amount of viral particle in the stools of thirteen patients(seven were given IgY, 6 placebo) infected by rotavirus were evaluated for 3 days with the quantitative RT-PCR method. Second, 36 children with known rotavirus infection identified by ELISA or semi-quantitative RT- PCR were evaluated. We gave 5 g anti-rotavirus egg yolk daily in two equally divided doses for 3 days to two groups(an 18 IgY group and an 18 placebo group), respectively after parenteral consent. Daily vomiting frequency, stool frequency, oral intake and urine output were monitored for 3 days, and electrolyte and blood chemistry were checked at the first and third days.
Results
: First, in the placebo group, the amount of virus particles increased daily, but in the IgY group it decreased daily. Second, when IgY and placebos were given to children infected with rotavirus, diarrhea on the third day decreased significantly in the IgY group, compared with the placebo group.
Conclusion
: Treatment with antirotavirus immunoglobulin from immunized chicken's egg resulted in a decrease in the amount of viral particles in stools and diarrhea frequency in children. These results suggest that anti-rotavirus IgY is effective in the treatment of rotavirus gastroenteritis.

Keywords :Immunoglobulin Y , Rotavirus , Diarrhea