ARS | Publication request: RAPID AND EARLY DETECTION OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES OF CULTURED FISH.

Submitted to: Symposium Diseases in Asian Aquaculture Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: June 3, 1996
Publication Date: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Early detection of infection of cultured fish is needed for prevention of diseases. A rapid diagnostic test was developed for the early detection of cultured catfish infected with Edwardsiella ictaluri. The FAST-ELISA was shown to be a specific and sensitive diagnostic test to detect antibodies produced against E. ictaluri in infected fish. This paper also described the detection of E. ictaluri by FAST-ELISA using monoclonal antibody specific for this bacterial pathogen of cultured catfish. The FAST-ELISA for early detection of E. ictaluri infected catfish are useful tests to aid in prevention of enteric septicemia by following early treatment. Enteric septicemia is responsible for annual losses of about 20 million dollars.

Technical Abstract: Early detection of infection of cultured fish is needed for prevention of diseases. Prompt treatment of infected fish greatly enhances the chance of successful control of infection and reduces mortality rates. Current diagnosis of many infections take hours or days. This delay often results in less effective treatment. Serological diagnosis of fish can be performed by detecting antibodies to specific antigens in the infected fish. This paper describes a Falcon Assay Screen Test (FAST-ELISA) assay that can detect antibody in the sera of channel catfish infected with Edwardsiella ictaluri using an exoantigen. This FAST-ELISA was found to be very rapid and sensitive.