ANTIBODY-PRODUCTION IN JAPANESE EELS, ANGUILLA-JAPONICA TEMMINCK AND SCHLEGEL

Adult Japanese eels, Anguilla japonica Temminck & Schlegel, (200-250 g , 45-55 cm) were immunized by intramuscular injection with goat IgG. A fter 5 weeks, eel immunoglobulin (Ig) was purified using affinity chro matography. The purified eel Ig was used to immunize rabbits to produc e anti-eel Ig antibody. The highest antibody ELISA value in eels was r eached 3 weeks after initial immunization with goat IgG, and then grad ually decreased. The antibody could still be detected at 140 days post immunization. The optimal temperature for antibody production was 30 d egrees C. Freund's complete adjuvant, and secondary immunization both increased antibody production in eels.