Neutralization of systemic toxicity of Daboia russelii venom and reprotoxin fraction by IgY antibodies

• IgY antibodies from chicken eggs neutralize Daboia russelii venom and reprotoxin. • Effective against neurotoxicity, hemolysis, edema, and procoagulant activity. • Comparable efficacy to equine antivenoms with potentially fewer side effects. • Cost-effective and ethical alternative for snakebite treatment. • Preclinical data support further development of IgY-based antivenom. Daboia russelii , a highly venomous snake prevalent in South Asia, causes significant morbidity and mortality due to its complex venom, which includes neurotoxins, hemotoxins, and reprotoxins. Current equine-derived antivenoms, while effective, are associated with adverse effects like serum sickness. This study explores the potential of chicken-derived IgY antibodies as a safer, cost-effective alternative. Venom was fractionated using gel filtration chromatography, yielding six protein peaks, with Peak-I (large molecular weight fraction, LMF) and Peak-II (reprotoxin) used for immunization and neutralization studies. IgY antibodies raised against LMF in hens effectively neutralized twice the LD 50 dose of reprotoxin (1:4 ratio) and whole venom (1:8 ratio), mitigating neurotoxicity, edema, hemolysis, anticoagulation, proteolysis, and cytotoxicity. Compared to equine antivenoms, IgY showed comparable neutralization efficacy with potentially fewer side effects, highlighting its therapeutic promise. These findings suggest IgY antibodies merit further investigation as a novel antivenom for D. russelii envenomation.