Publication Abstract

Detection of antibodies against infectious pancreatic necrosis virus in rainbow trout blood collected on filter paper discs

P.F. Dixon and J. de Groot

Immunoassays to detect fish antibodies against viruses are being evaluated at the Fish Diseases Laboratory, Weymouth (Lorenzen & Dixon, 199 I , Dixon et ol., 1994, Dixon & de Groot, I 996), and alternative ways of collecting and transporting blood from field sites to the laboratory are being investigated. Collection of blood on filter paper for use in serological tests has been described (Chapman, 1924). Advantages of such a method include reduced costs of materials (filter paper instead of blood containers), time savings (no separation of serum or plasma) and the samples may be easier to transport to the laboratory (lighter weight, standard postal service could be used). For use in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), discs of a suitable size to fit into the solid phase vessel can be cut out of blood-impregnated filter paper with a tool such as a cork borer or paper punch (McLean & Hilbink, 1989), but that is very time consuming. Banks (1985) described an easier method using what was termed an Elisadisc. A purpose-made punch cut down a standard filter paper circle to form a small segment with six 6 mm die disks attached by a narrow neck. Blood was applied to the discs and dried. At the laboratory, the blood impregnated discs were pulled off, placed in wells of an antigen-coated microtitre plate and the antibody eluted, after which a standard ELISA was performed. We report here our evaluation of Elisadiscs for collecting rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, blood and testing for the presence of antibody against infectious pancreatic necrosis virus (IPNV).

Reference:

P.F. Dixon and J. de Groot, 1998. Detection of antibodies against infectious pancreatic necrosis virus in rainbow trout blood collected on filter paper discs. pp241-246 In: Methodology in Fish Diseases Research. (Barnes, A.C. et al. (eds)). Fisheries Research Services, Aberdeen.