Subchronic oral toxicity evaluation of immunoglobulin y(Igy) anti HIV in rats

Chicken egg yolk was recognized as an inexpensive alternate antibody source Immunoglobulin Y (IgY) as its immunotherapeutic application has proved successful for treatment of a variety of infections, but the need to evaluate the safety of these IgY. The objective of the study was to evaluate the oral subchronic toxicity of IgY anti HIV on rat (Rattus norvegicus). In subchronic toxicity study, rat by administering orally graded doses of the IgY anti HIV in the ranges of 200mg, 400 mg and 800 mg /kg body weight once in a day for 90 days and the number of dead mice was recorded. Throughout 90 days of the treatment oral administration of IgY anti HIV at dose of 200 mg, 400 mg and 800 mg /kg body weight showed there no changes in behavioural pattern, clinical sign of toxicity (convulsion, diarrhea, cornea reflex, dyspnea, righting reflex, straub), vital organs weight (liver, lung, heart,nspleen and kidney) and body weight of mice in both control and treatment groups. Also there were no any significant alterations in both the biochemical analysis of the blood serum (SGPT, SGOT, BUN and Creatinine) and hematological (erythrocyte, leukocyte, and hemoglobin) parameters.The overall finding of this study indicates that the oral administration of IgY anti HIV did not produce any significant toxic effect in rat. Hence, the IgY anti HIV can be utilized for immunotherapy on HIV patient.