SPECIAL STORY FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE September 2023 63 "Egg powder, a nutrient with bioactive molecules, helps piglet’s growth, performance and increases immunity in piglets during the first two weeks after weaning." BIOACTIVE MOLECULES IN EGG POWDER CONTRIBUTE TO PIGLET’S HEALTH Jordi Ysamat, MVetMed Technical Sales Manager ACTIPRO VEOS Group Egg powder is a source of essential nutrients and bioactive molecules that has a significant potential to improve piglet’s health. These bioactive molecules present in egg powder include immunoglobulins, antimicrobial proteins, vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants. The synergistic effects of these bioactive molecules contribute to improved growth, immunity and health of young piglets. PASSIVE IMMUNITY The consumption of egg powder rich in IgY supplies passive immunity and offers immediate protection against a wide range of pathogens like viruses and bacteria. Immunoglobulin Y (IgY) is mostly found in the yolk part of the egg and has a structure with two heavy chains (H), each one with a molecular weight of 67 to 70 kDa, and two light chains (L), with 25 kDa. IgY significantly reduces the risk of infections, supplying better health and immunity to piglets during the first and the second week post weaning. IgY against the antigen K88 is able to significantly inhibit the growth of E. coli K88, block the binding of E. coli to small intestinal mucus, and protect piglets from E. coli-induced diarrhea. Escherichia coli (ETEC) are bacteria that colonize the small intestine and cause severe diarrhea in neonatal and weaned piglets. The pathogenesis of E. coli is due to the adhesion of bacteria to the mucus of the small intestine using surface proteins like fimbriae. Fimbriae are long filamentous polymeric protein structures found at the surface of bacterial cells. They enable the bacteria to bind to specific receptor structures and thereby colonize specific surfaces. IgY is highly effective against a wide variety of intestinal pathogenic microorganisms which cause diarrhea in animals, such as Salmonella spp., Eimeria spp., as well as porcine epidemic diarrhea virus. Also, Ig Y significantly prevents E. coli K88 adhering to the jejunal and ileal mucosa of piglets with E. coli infection and significantly decreased E. coli and enterotoxin expression in colonic contents (Zhaobin Wang-Veterinary research). ANTIMICROBIAL PROTEINS The most common antimicrobial proteins are Lysozyme, Ovomucin and Ovotransferrin. Lysozyme is a multifunctional enzyme that serves as nonspecific innate immunity molecule responsible for the antibacterial defense. If piglets consume egg powder having lysozyme, then the health microbiota increases, and the proliferation of damage bacteria reduces. This balance is essential for an optimal digestion, good nutrient absorption and gut health in piglets.
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