PRODUCTION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF MONOCLONAL-ANTIBODIES AGAINST SERPULINA-HYODYSENTERIAE AND S-INNOCENS AND THEIR USE IN SEROTYPING

Murine monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) directed against serotypes 1, 2, 8 , and 9 of Serpulina hyodysenteriae and strain B256 of Serpulina innoc ens were produced and characterized. A serological classification of 9 6 field strains of S. hyodysenteriae and 28 field strains of S. innoce ns isolated from pigs showing clinical signs of swine dysentery was pe rformed by rapid dot enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with th e MAbs. The results indicated that the majority of the field strains o f S. hyodysenteriae (69%) belonged to serotypes 8, 1, and 9, whereas o nly 31% of the S. innocens strains were recognized by MAb 9H7, indicat ing the presence of antigenic heterogeneity among S. innocens isolates , Rapid dot ELISA with type-specific MAbs was found to be specific, se nsitive, and easy to perform and thus to be suitable for routine serot yping of S. hyodysenteriae and S. innocens isolates. This is the first report of MAbs being used for serotyping clinical isolates of S. hyod ysenteriae and S. innocens.