Publication Abstract

Development and application of an immunoassay diagnostic technique for studying Hematodinium infections in Nephrops norvegicus populations

Development and application of animmunoassay diagnostic technique for studying Hematodinium infections in Nephropsnorvegicus populations

G.D. Stentiford, D.M. Neil and G.H. Coombs

Patent Hematodinium infections of the Norway lobster Nephropsnorvegicus can be detected with a morphological method (pleopod diagnosis), but thisfails to identify low-level haemolymph (sub-patent) and any tissue-based (latent)infections. The current study describes the development and application of an immunoassayfor the detection of antigens of the parasite Hematodinium in the Norway lobster N.norvegicus. Infected tissue and haemolymph samples were detected as multiple-bandreactions to a polyclonal antibody (anti-Hematodinium). The sensitivity limit ofthe method was 204 parasites mm^-3, approximately 10 times more sensitive thanthe pleopod diagnosis method. Use of the immunoassay on tissue samples taken from catchesin the Clyde Sea area, Scotland, UK, showed that the pleopod method considerablyunder-diagnosed infection prevalence in the early part of the season, though thisunder-diagnosis decreased as infected lobsters in the field progressed from latent andsub-patent to patent infections. However, the immunoassay failed to detect any infectedlobsters during the summer months, suggesting that infection may not be carried over fromone season to the next. The data presented suggest that this immunoassay allows for theaccurate estimation of Hematodinium infection prevalence in the field and should beemployed, where possible, for the routine monitoring of infection prevalence in N.norvegicus.

Reference:

G.D. Stentiford, D.M. Neil and G.H. Coombs, 2001. Development and application of animmunoassay diagnostic technique for studying Hematodinium infections in Nephropsnorvegicus populations. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms, 46(3): 223-229.

G.D. Stentiford*, D.M. Neil and G.H. Coombs

Diseases of Aquatic Organisms, 46(3): 223-229