The incidence of fungal infections caused by the opportunistic yeast C. albicans has increased significantly in recent years. Moreover, Limited antifungal drug choices and their high toxicity as well as the potential risk of the emergence of the drug-resistant C. albicans strains indicate the need for novel therapeutic strategies. We prepared anti-C. albicans antibodies in chicken egg yolk (anti-CA IgY) and investigated its protective effectiveness against C. albicans in a murine model of oral candidiasis. Anti-CA IgY was administrated in the oral cavity twice a day starting one day before the infection. The tongue lesions were monitored and the CFUs of C. albicans in tongue, lungs, kidneys, and intestine were counted. The tongue lesion scores were significantly reduced (P≤0.05). The symptomatic effect was confirmed by the reduction of the number of C. albicans CFUs in tongue homogenates. These results indicate that anti-CA IgY has a protective effect against the oral candidiasis of experimentally infected immunocompetent mice. Moreover, there was a significant reduction in the C. albicans CFUs in the other organs. These results indicate that anti-CA IgY inhibits the dissemination of the systemic C. albicans infection. In conclusion, anti-CA IgY might be considered as a prophylactic immunotherapy or possibly an adjunct to antifungal therapy. |
