DEVELOPMENT OF IMMUNOLOGICAL TECHNIQUES FOR THE DETECTION OF THE POTENTIAL CAUSATIVE AGENT OF THE BROWN RING DISEASE

Current methods for the detection of the potential causative agent of the brown ring disease (BRD) in clams (Vibrio P1) involve the isolatio n of the microorganism from the affected clams, and further biochemica l identification. However, by using this methodology, the positive iso lation of P1 strains from Spanish affected clams has not been yet succ essful. In the present study, three immunological techniques (slide ag glutination test, immunofluorescence technique, and indirect dot-blot immunoenzymatic assay) have been developed and performed for the speci fic detection and identification of P1 strains compared to other Vibri o strains which routinely are isolated from clams affected by BRD, The dot-blot immunoenzymatic technique with P1 antiserum improves both th e specificity and practicability of immune identification of Vibrio P1 , and only a very weak cross-reactivity was recorded with some V. pela gius-V, splendidus strains isolated from diseased clams. Cross-reactio ns only occur at high antiserum concentrations and can be overcome by an adequate dilution of the antiserum.