Review Article: Immunostimulants in livestock, poultry, and aquaculture: Current applications and future prospects of IgY

The livestock, poultry, and aquaculture industries are essential for global food security and animal protein production. However, infectious diseases continue to cause substantial economic losses through increased mortality, impaired growth performance, reduced productivity, and elevated treatment costs. In response to growing concerns regarding antibiotic resistance and the excessive use of antimicrobial agents, immunostimulants have emerged as promising alternatives for disease prevention and health management. Among these compounds, egg yolk immunoglobulin (IgY) has attracted considerable attention due to its high specificity, safety, cost-effective large-scale production, and broad antimicrobial potential. This review summarizes the current knowledge regarding the use of immunostimulants in livestock, poultry, and aquaculture, with particular emphasis on the biological properties, mechanisms of action, and practical applications of IgY. In addition, the potential role of IgY in improving animal health, enhancing immune responses, reducing mortality, and increasing production efficiency is discussed. The available evidence suggests that IgY may serve as an effective alternative or complementary strategy to antibiotics in modern animal production systems. Its application could contribute to improved sustainability, reduced antimicrobial dependence, and enhanced economic performance across livestock, poultry, and aquaculture industries.

Keywords:

IgY , immunostimulants , livestock , poultry , aquaculture , antibiotic alternatives , animal health.