AN ELISA TECHNIQUE FOR RAPID DIAGNOSIS OF VIBRIOSIS IN SEA BASS DICENTRARCHUS-LABRAX

Three batches of rabbits were immunized against 2 strains of Vibrio an guillarum (Va V 62 and Va V 408), which cause vibriosis in sea bass Di centrarchus labrax (L. 1758) Serranidae. Homologous and heterologous r eactions were obtained against these Vibrio strains and other bacteria using an improved indirect ELISA technique. Antibody and antigen titr ations revealed high immunogenecity (high antibody titers for the anti sera) of the 2 Vibrio strains. They correspond to serotype I and show close affinity. The specificity and sensitivity of 1 selected antiseru m were tested on brain extracts from healthy sea bass and those infect ed artificially with V. anguillarum serotypes I and III. Preliminary r esults confirm the reliability of the technique and warrant its use fo r improving disease diagnosis.