Presentation given by Mr. Thomas Heile during the CropTech-FeedTech Conference co-organized by WATT during VIV Asia 2013

1. Immunoglobulins in Piglet Nutrition
VIV 2013 Bangkok
Thursday – 14 March
15:00-16:00 h
CropTech-FeedTech Asia 2013 Conference, by WATT
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2. Immunoglobulins in Piglet Nutrition
Presentation by
Thomas Heile, Dipl.-Ing. agr.
Product & Trial Manager, EW Nutrition
www.ew-nutrition.com
Hall 106 Booth C 020
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3. Who we are…
EW Nutrition is a young company with:
Functional & Innovative Products Offering Added
Value
Solutions Backed by Scientific Research
Natural Solutions
Basic Production
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4. Where we are…
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5. Outline
1. Background
2. Immunoglobulins
3. Sow colostrum & milk
4. Bovine colostrum & dried whey
5. Animal plasma
6. Hyper-immunized eggs
7. Conclusions
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6. Outline
1. Background
2. Immunoglobulins
3. Sow colostrum & milk
4. Bovine colostrum & dried whey
5. Animal plasma
6. Hyper-immunized eggs
7. Conclusions
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7. Background
• Immunoglobulins have been part of young piglets
nutrition for almost 20 years.
• Natural sources of ingredients to enhance immunity
are needed world wide
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8. Background
• Immunology is extremely difficult!
So, it’s best left to the experts...
• Immunology is extremely important!
So, we better at least understand the basics...
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9. Outline
1. Background
2. Immunoglobulins
3. Sow colostrum & milk
4. Bovine colostrum & dried whey
5. Animal plasma
6. Hyper-immunized eggs
7. Conclusions
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10. Immunoglobulins
Immunoglobulins
...the basics...
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11. Basic Immunology…
The Immune system is like an army
• Many defense systems
• Many layers of protection
but,
 the most advanced weapon are immunoglobulins
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12. Basic Immunology…
• Immunoglobulin = antibody
• Ig = abbreviation for immunoglobulin
• Antigen = pathogen
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13. Basic Immunology…
IMMUNOGLOBULINS
• Natural compounds
• Globular proteins
• Found in all animals
• Last line of defense
• Antigen-specific design
• Extremely effective
• Costly for the organism
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14. Serval Types of Immunoglobulins
blood & colostrum auto-immunity
(mammals)
blood & milk mucosal- surface
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15. Birds
• Mammals have IgG
• Birds possess IgY (Y = “yolk”) IgG
Hinge
• IgY provide passive immunity to chicks
• IgY are heavier because they posses one
IgY
extra region IgY posses one extra region
• IgY has higher affinity (more binding sites)
• IgY has higher avidity (binds stronger)
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16. Intestinal Effects
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17. Mode of action
Absence of IgY Presence of IgY
intestinal wall
sporozoids
Y
Y
bacteria IgY
Y
Y
virus
Y
membrane receptor
Y
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18. Two fold mode of action
• Ig binds bacteria and viruses in the gut
• Ig occupies binding sites on epithelium
 Tagged pathogens are ‘cleared’ for extermination
 Blocked pathogens cannot bind to epithelium
 Blocked sites cannot host pathogens
Reduced pathogenic load = increased gut health
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19. Sources of Immunoglobulins
• Sow colostrum and milk (suckling pigs)
• Spray-dried bovine colostrum and whey
• Spray-dried animal plasma
• Spray-dried hyper-immunized eggs
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20. Outline
1. Background
2. Immunoglobulins
3. Sow colostrum & milk
4. Bovine colostrum & dried whey
5. Animal plasma
6. Hyper-immunized eggs
7. Conclusions
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21. Best Meal in a Lifetime!
...nature’s best meal...
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22. Sow colostrum
• Colostrum is rich in IgG
• IgG are absorbed intact only in the first hours
• Piglets deprived of colostrum often die
• Immunoglobulins in colostrum are hard to replace
in contrast to other nutrients!
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23. Sow colostrum & milk
Components Colostrum Milk
Protein, % 15 5.5
Casein, % 1.5 2.75
Whey, % 15 2
IgG, mg/ml 1
IgA, mg/ml 5
IgM, mg/ml 1.5
Klobasa et al. (1987), Csapo et al. (1996), Darragh & Moughan (1998)
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24. Outline
1. Background
2. Immunoglobulins
3. Sow colostrum & milk
4. Bovine colostrum & dried whey
5. Animal plasma
6. Hyper-immunized eggs
7. Conclusions
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25. Immunoglobulins in Piglet Nutrition
Bovine colostrum & whey
...non-specific sources of Ig...
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26. Bovine colostrum & milk
Components Colostrum Milk
Porcine Bovine Porcine Bovine
Protein, % 15 9 5.5 3.4
Caseins, % 1.5 2.75
Whey, % 13.5 2
IgG, mg/ml 96 70 1 0.35
IgA, mg/ml 21 5 5 0.05
IgM, mg/ml 9 5 1.5 0.05
Klobasa et al. (1987), Csapo et al. (1996), Darragh & Moughan (1998),
Bourdy et al. (2007)
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27. Dried whey powder
• WPC and WPI are concentrated forms of Ig
• IgA is a more ‘generic’ form of Ig
• Not specific to piglet antigens
• Concentration varies considerably
• Quality varies considerably
• Results with WPC/WPI variable
• Pellets harden at high levels of WPC/WPI
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28. Outline
1. Background
2. Immunoglobulins
3. Sow colostrum & milk
4. Bovine colostrum & dried whey
5. Animal plasma
6. Hyper-immunized eggs
7. Conclusions
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29. Immunoglobulins in Piglet Nutrition
Animal plasma
...a shotgun approach...
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30. Animal Plasma
• From pig and cattle slaughterhouses
• Spray-dried to preserve functional properties
• Off-cream color
• Characteristic aroma and metallic taste
• Free-flowing powder
• Expensive, at 3-4 euros per kg
• Added at approx. 5% in piglet diets
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31. Animal Plasma
• Improves gastrointestinal health
• Improves feed intake
• Improves growth performance
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32. Animal Plasma
Effect most prominent
 in the first couple of weeks post-weaning
 in below-average health pigs and continuous-flow nurseries
 in combination with low-quality diets
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33. Issues with Animal Plasma
• Not allowed in many countries (due to BSE)
• Not used in many countries (due to BSE regulations that
require separate lines of feed production)
• Not preferred in many countries due to lack of confidence in
biosecurity
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34. Mode of Action
• Taste and aroma? = No!
(Ermer et al. (1994) J.Anim.Sci. Vol. 72, pp.1548-1554
• Protein digestibility and quality? = No!
Other proteins with even better nutritive value don’t have similar effects...
• Glutamine concentration? = No!
Results of other studies with glutamine not so strong or repeatable..
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35. Mode of Action of Animal Plasma
Casein Plasma Albumin Ig Rest
Weight gain
19a 134b 78ab 158c 50a
(g/day)
Feed intake
181a 262b 244ab 273b 191a
(g/day)
source: Gatnau & Zimmerman (1995)
Pigs were weaned at 19 days of age, and diets were fed for 15 days post-weaning.
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36. Mode of Action of Animal Plasma
source: Owen et al (1995) J. Anim. Sci. Vol 73(1):81
Pigs were weaned at 21 days of age, and diets were fed for 2 weeks post-weaning.
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37. Mode of Action of Animal Plasma
Pierce et al (2005) J. Anim. Sci. Vol 83:2876-2885
Pigs were weaned at 21 days of age, and diets were fed for 1 week post-weaning.
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38. Mode of Action
It is clear that the mode of action of animal plasma is through
its immunoglobulin fraction.
 Is it possible to replace immunoglobulin's from plasma?
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39. Outline
1. Background
2. Immunoglobulins
3. Sow colostrum & milk
4. Bovine colostrum & dried whey
5. Animal plasma
6. Hyper-immunized eggs
7. Conclusions
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40. Egg Immunoglobulins
• Natural component of all eggs
• Provide passive immunity to chicks
• Old farm-remedy for piglets with diarrhea...
 Break a few eggs (from same farm) into piglet’s liquid
milk-based soup for a few days...or until diarrhea
disappears!
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41. Egg Immunoglobulins
• Today, flocks are immunized against specific piglet
pathogens
• Eggs are collected and spray-dried
• Resulting egg powder is rich in IgY
Benefits: enhanced piglet health and growth
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42. Major pathogens affecting piglets
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43. Egg Immunoglobulins against ETEC
Passive immunization of IgY against K88-, K99-, and 987P-
fimbriae by experimental enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli
infection in neonatal piglets
Infection and Immunity (1992, 60: 998-1007)
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44. Egg Immunoglobulins against ETEC
Animals: Neonatal pigs
Antibody: against K88, K99, and 987P fimbria of
enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC)
Groups: 1. Control
2. IgY (1 titer, 4 titers, 16 titers)
Challenge: K88+ and K99+ ETEC; 1 x 1012 CFU / piglet
987P+ ETEC; 1 x 1010 CFU / piglet
Test period: 1 to 7 days of age
Observed: 1. Clinical symptoms
2. Bacteria detection
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45. Egg Immunoglobulins against ETEC
100
80
Mortality (%)
60
40
20
0
Antibody titers
K88 (n=7) K99 (n=4) 987P (n=5)
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46. Egg Immunoglobulins against ETEC
Incidence of diarrhea (%)
100
80
60
40
20
0
0 1 3 5
Days after challenge
Control (n=7) 1 (n=7) 4 (n=7) 16 (n=7)
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47. Egg Immunoglobulins against TGE
Passive immunization of IgY against experimental
Transmissible Gastroenteritis of swine (TGE) in
neonatal piglets
Internal trial GHEN, 2000
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48. Egg Immunoglobulins against TGE
Mortality Duration of Cumulative Weight gain
(%) diarrhea fecal score (%)
(days)
Control 80 12.4 70.0 -19.9
(n=5)
IGY 0* 5.2** 21.5** 7.7**
(n=6)
* p<0.05, ** P<0.01, compared with control group
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49. Latest Research
• New studies focus on replacing plasma immunoglobulins
with egg immunoglobulins
• Advantages: Less expensive, more specific
• Results are promising!
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50. IgY Replaces Plasma !
Control Plasma IgY
Weight gain (g/day) 100 138 134
Feed intake (g/day) 147 187 186
Days with diarrhea 7 4 3
Mortality 40 7 7
Pigs were weaned at 10 days of age, and diets were fed for 7 days post-weaning.
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51. Summary of different field trials
ADG, g/day Negative Plasma IgY
(Globigen)
Trial 1
Phase 1 (7 days) 137a 208b 195b
Phase 2 (14 days) 477a 459a 510b
Trial 2
Phase 1 (7 days) 97a 102a 121b
Phase 2 (14 days) 454 449 452
Trial 3
Phase 1 (7 days) 28a 71b 93b
Phase 2 (14 days) 353a 478b 437b
Mavromichalis (2010)
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52. Outline
1. Background
2. Immunoglobulins
3. Sow colostrum & milk
4. Bovine colostrum & dried whey
5. Animal plasma
6. Hyper-immunized eggs
7. Conclusions
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53. Immunoglobulins in Piglet Nutrition
Conclusions
...getting there...
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54. Comparison of available Ig sources
Sow colostrum Bovine Animal plasma Hyper
& milk colostrum & immunized eggs
dried whey
Swine specific
X - X XX
antibodies
Potential carrier
X - XX -
of disease
Cost low high high mid
Standardized
- X - XX
Ig Product
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55. Immunoglobulins in Piglet Nutrition
• In-feed immunoglobulins are important!
• Piglet health and performance depend on Ig
• Sources vary in quality, concentration, potency
• Specific Ig have been shown to offer best results
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56. Immunoglobulins in Piglet Nutrition
• When we buy piglet feed, we must ask about the source and
specificity of Ig of the feed, the same way we do about lysine,
lactose, and energy!
• When we formulate piglet feeds, we should think in terms of Ig,
not of plasma, milk, eggs, etc..
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57. Immunoglobulins in Piglet Nutrition
Many thanks
for your time
and consideration!
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58. Immunoglobulins in Piglet Nutrition
For Further Information, please visit us!
EW Nutrition GmbH
Hall 106 Booth C 020
www.ew-nutrition.com
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59. Backup
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60. Egg Immunoglobulins against ETEC
Passive immunization of IgY against F18-fimbriae by
experimental enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli infection in
weaned pigs
The Journal of Veterinary Medical Science (1997, 59: 917-921)
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61. Egg Immunoglobulins against ETEC
 Animals: Weaned pigs
 Antibody: against F18-fimbrial of Escherichia coli
 Groups: Control
IgY (1 titer, 5 titers)
 Challenge: F18+ ETEC; 1 x 1011 CFU / piglet
 Test period: 28 to 36 days of age
 Observed: 1. Clinical symptoms
2. Bacteria detection
3. Body weight
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62. Egg Immunoglobulins against ETEC
Incidence of diarrhea (%)
50
40
30
20
10
0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Days after challenge
Control (n=28) 1 (n=18) 5 (n=28)
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63. Egg Immunoglobulins against ETEC
80 79,9**
70
60
Body weight gain (%)
52,4 52,1
50
40
30
20
10
0
Control (n= 28) Titer x1 (n=18) Titer x5 (n=28)
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