DETECTION OF VIBRIO-VULNIFICUS AND VIBRIO-CHOLERAE O1 IN OYSTER TISSUE USING IMMUNOELECTRON MICROSCOPY

Rabbit polyclonal antibodies (PAb) against purified cell wall capsular polysaccharide of clinical strains of Vibrio vulnificus and a monoclo nal antibody (MAb) against the A antigen of the lipopolysaccharide (LP S) of Vibrio cholerae were evaluated for their usefulness in immunogol d electron microscopy of Vibrio spp. in oyster tissues. The PAb to the V. vulnificus clinical strains did not label environmental isolates o f this species, nor other Vibrio spp. Likewise MAb to V. cholerae 01 L PS did not cross react with other Vibrio spp., as tested by ELISA and immunogold electron microscopy. Both antibodies labeled pure cultures of the autologous strains and also bound to these phagocytized bacteri a in oyster hemocytes. After 24 h exposure to V. cholerae, epithelia o f mantle, gill, stomach, and muscle tissue showed low levels of labeli ng between cells, indicating that LPS material had been deposited ther e by phagocytic hemocytes involved in diapedesis. Whole cells of V. ch olerae and V. vulnificus were only found in intact hemocytes and among stomach contents.