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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Auburn, Alabama » Aquatic Animal Health Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #171225
Title: RAPID DETECTION AND IDENTIFICATION OF STREPTOCOCCUS INIAE USING A MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY-BASED INDIRECT FLUORESCENT ANTIBODY TECHNIQUE

Author
item Klesius, Phillip
item Evans, Joyce
item Shoemaker, Craig
item Yeh, Hung-Yueh
item GOODWIN, A - University of Arkansas
item ADAMS, A - University of Stirling
item THOMPSON, K - University of Stirling

Submitted to: Aquaculture
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/20/2005
Publication Date: 8/31/2006
Citation: Klesius, P.H., Evans, J.J., Shoemaker, C.A., Yeh, H., Goodwin, A.E., Adams, A., Thompson, K. 2006. Rapid detection and identification of streptococcus iniae using a monoclonal antibody-based indirect fluorescent antibody technique. Aquaculture. 258(1-4). p. 180-186

Interpretive Summary: Streptococcus iniae is an important economic bacterial pathogen of many species of both cultured fresh water and marine fish. The traditional plate culture technique to detect and identify S. iniae is time consuming and may be problematic due to phenotypic variations of S. iniae isolates. We develop a monoclonal antibody indirect fluorescent antibody technique (IFAT) that allowed the rapid identification of infected fish. The results of the present study reveal that this IFAT is an improvement in the ability to detect and identify S. iniae in infected and carrier fish, and possibly in fish culture environments and feed. The IFAT may identify S. iniae in less than one hour from olfactory epithelium of the naris of fish.

Technical Abstract: Streptococcus iniae is among the major pathogens of a large number of fish species cultured in fresh and marine recirculating and net pen production systems. The traditional plate culture technique to detect and identify S. iniae is time consuming and may be problematic due to phenotypic variations of S. iniae isolates. The rapid transmission and severe economic impact of this disease necessitates the development of a rapid, reliable, specific and sensitive technique to detect and identify S. iniae. We developed an indirect fluorescent antibody technique (IFAT) based on a highly specific mononclonal antibody for S. iniae. The IFAT was found to be suitable for the detection and identification of S. iniae from experimentally and naturally infected tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). The olfactory epithelium of the naris of experimentally and naturally infected tilapia was demonstrated to be a reliable, sensitive and non-lethal sample site for the detection and identification of S. iniae. This IFAT was validated by the traditional plate culture techniques, but found to be considerably less time consuming and problematic. These findings reveal that this IFAT is an improvement in ability to detect and identify S. iniae in infected and carrier fish, and possibly in fish culture environments and feed.