Development of an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the detection of leptospiral antibodies in dogs.

Serology plays an important role in the diagnosis of leptospirosis. Few laboratories have the resources, expertise, or facilities to perform the microscopic agglutination test (MAT). Thus, there is a need for a rapid and simple serological test that could be used in any diagnostic laboratory. In this study, a genus-specific, heat-stable antigenic preparation from Leptospira interrogans serovar pomona was used in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of leptospiral antibodies in dog sera. This antigenic preparation reacted with rabbit antisera against L. interrogans serovars bratislava, autumnalis, icterohaemorrhagiae and pomona and with rabbit antiserum against L. kirschneri serovar grippotyphosa. The ELISA showed a relative specificity of 95.6% with 158 dog sera which were negative at a dilution of 1:100 in the MAT for serovars pomona, bratislava, icterohaemorrhagiae, autumnalis, hardjo, and grippotyphosa. The relative sensitivity of this assay with 21 dog sera that revealed serovars MAT titres of > or =100 to different serovars was 100%. This assay is easily standardized, technically more advantageous than MAT, and uses an antigenic preparation that can be routinely prepared in large amounts. It was concluded that this ELISA is sufficiently sensitive test to be used as an initial screening test for the detection of leptospiral antibodies in canine sera, with subsequent confirmation of positive test results with the MAT.

A sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the detection of Streptococcus suis.

A double-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed for the detection and the identification of Streptococcus suis capsular types 1, 2, 1/2, 3 and 22. The specificity of this test was first evaluated using reference strains of S. suis capsular types 1 to 28 and 1/2 as well as 15 different bacterial species susceptible to be isolated from swine. The ELISA developed was very specific for capsular types 1, 3 and 22 but it could not discriminate between capsular types 2 and 1/2. In a second study, S. suis isolates from 328, 493, 368 and 76 diseased pigs were used to detect capsular types 1, 2 or 1/2, 3 and 22 respectively. The relative specificity and sensitivity varied between 98% and 100%. The ELISA results were in excellent agreement with the standard techniques (biochemical tests, coagglutination and capsular reaction tests) in detecting both positive and negative strains. Kappa values were 0.80, 0.99, 0.97 and 1.00 for detecting S. suis capsular types 1, 2 or 1/2, 3, and 22 respectively. To evaluate the relative-sensitivity of the test, primary cultures from 73 diseased pigs and tissue samples from 67 diseased pigs were used directly for detecting these capsular types. With primary cultures, the relative specificity and sensitivity (95.9% and 91.6% respectively) remained high and the test was very suitable (Kappa = 0.87). The ELISA using tissue samples gave a good specificity (97.6%), a moderate sensitivity (62.5%) and a low agreement with standard tests (Kappa = 0.64).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Biochemical characterization of an antigenic saline extract of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serotype 5 and identification of a serotype-specific antigen for ELISA serodiagnosis.

A saline extract of boiled-formalinized whole cells from a local strain (81-750; Quebec, Canada) of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, serotype 5b was used as an antigen in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for serodiagnosis of swine pleuropneumonia. Characterization of this crude extract was done and proteins, neutral sugars, hexosamines, and 2-keto-3-deoxyoctonate (KDO) were evaluated. On phenol extraction of the crude extract a serotype-specific antigen of polysaccharidic nature was recovered from the aqueous phase. This antigen was characterized using sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) with Coomassie blue, silver and Schiff stainings. Immunoblots were done using sera of experimentally infected pigs that showed serotype specificity and cross-reactivity. Overall, the results indicate that the O-chain of lipopolysaccharides is a specific antigen that could be used in ELISA for the serodiagnosis of serotype 5 of A. pleuropneumoniae.

Production and purification of heat-stable enterotoxin b from a porcine Escherichia coli strain.

Production of heat-stable enterotoxin b (STb) by porcine Escherichia coli strains belonging to serogroup O115 was evaluated in ligated intestinal segments of adult rats. The conditions for optimal production and detection of STb were studied by using the STb-producing strain 4247. As STb production was similar in complex Trypticase soy broth and minimal Davis medium, the latter was used for the fermentation of strain 4247 and the production of STb in large quantities. STb was then purified to apparent homogeneity by sequential ultrafiltration, ultracentrifugation, and preparative gel electrophoresis. The enterotoxin was purified more than 500-fold and exhibited a molecular weight of approximately 5,000 as determined by urea-sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis. Purified STb retained such chemical characteristics as resistance to heating (60 degrees C/30 min) and sensitivity to trypsin. A rabbit polyclonal antiserum was produced against the purified toxin. Numerous booster doses were required to obtain a significant enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay titer, suggesting that STb is a poor immunogen. Nevertheless, the antiserum was used successfully to discriminate between culture supernatants of STb-positive and STb-negative O115 E. coli strains, thus demonstrating the immunogenicity of purified STb.

Purification, and biochemical and structural characterization of a fimbrial haemagglutinin of Renibacterium salmoninarum.

Renibacterium salmoninarum was shown to possess peritrichous fimbriae. Electron microscopy of strains FMV 84-01 and ATCC 33209T revealed short, flexible fimbriae less than 2 nm in diameter. These surface appendages were isolated from the bacteria by a procedure involving water extraction and urea solubilization. The fimbrin was purified to homogeneity by Fast Pressure Liquid Chromatography, and shown by SDS-PAGE to be a protein of 57 kDa. Isoelectric focusing under non-denaturing conditions indicated a pI of 4.8. The protein had an amino acid composition rich in glycine, Asx (aspartic acid and asparagine), valine and alanine; methionine was absent. Approximately 33% of the amino acid residues were hydrophobic. Immunoblotting using a polyclonal antiserum raised against whole cells showed that the 57 kDa protein was the immunodominant antigen on the cell surface. Immunogold labelling using polyclonal antibodies raised against the fimbrin revealed an alignment of gold particles along the fimbriae. Purified fimbriae caused agglutination of rabbit erythrocytes and antifimbrial serum inhibited this haemagglutination. Altogether the results indicate that the fimbriae on the surface of R. salmoninarum are responsible for the haemagglutinating activity.

Immunoelectron microscopic demonstration that Renibacterium salmoninarum is encapsulated.

The cell surfaces of four strains of Renibacterium salmoninarum, including the type strain Lea-7-74T, were examined by transmission electron microscopy after immuno-stabilization and staining with ruthenium red. Cells were covered with a layer of capsular material whose thickness varied between 30 to 60 nm. Our results indicate that R. salmoninarum is encapsulated.

Biochemical and toxigenic characteristics of Aeromonas spp. isolated from diseased mammals, moribund and healthy fish.

In this study we describe biochemical, toxigenic and surface characteristics of 33 motile Aeromonas isolated from diseased mammals, 3 from moribund marine mammals, 24 from healthy fish and 4 from moribund fish. Aeromonas hydrophila, A. caviae and A. sobria were isolated from both mammals and fish but at a different incidence. Aeromonas hydrophila was the predominant species isolated from clinical specimens; it was isolated from pneumonia, wound infections, septicemia and abortion in horses, cattle and pigs. Aeromonas sobria was isolated from one mammal and 11 healthy fish. Aeromonas caviae was isolated in 2 cases from healthy fish and in 9 cases from diseased mammals. Variations in some biochemical tests including sorbitol, amylase and citrate, were observed between isolates from different sources. However, these differences did not allow the differentiation of isolates from diseased mammals and healthy fish. The majority of A. hydrophila isolates produced different extracellular products; A. sobria isolates produced less exotoxin. With A. caviae isolates no hemolysin, protease, enterotoxin or elastase were detected. There was no quantitative difference in hemolysin, protease, enterotoxin or elastase production between isolates from mammals and fish. It is suggested that A. hydrophila could be a potential pathogen for domestic animals, and fish may represent a potential reservoir of infection.

Surface antigens of virulent strains of Aeromonas hydrophila.

Antiserum was raised in rabbits to whole cells of a representative strain from a group of A. hydrophila strains exhibiting enhanced virulence for fish. The major surface antigens of the strain were identified by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and Western blotting. The lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was examined using SDS-PAGE and silver staining. It was found to possess O polysaccharide chains of homogeneous length that were highly immunogenic. The LPS was conserved both morphologically and antigenically throughout the high virulence group. Heat-labile protein antigens were detected after absorption of the antiserum with boiled cells of the homologous strain. Only one major protein antigen, with a molecular weight of approximately 52,000, was present in outer membrane preparations or in whole cell lysates. A representative strain from the high virulence group, strain TF7, was shown by electron microscopy to be covered by a regular surface protein array (S-layer) which was found to be composed primarily of the 52 KD protein antigen. All the other members of the A. hydrophila high virulence group were shown to possess similar S-layers.

New fimbrial antigen F165 from Escherichia coli serogroup O115 strains isolated from piglets with diarrhea.

Sixteen strains of Escherichia coli serogroup O115 isolated from piglets with diarrhea were examined for mannose-sensitive or mannose-resistant hemagglutination (MSHA or MRHA, respectively) for the presence of fimbriae by electron microscopy and for enterotoxigenicity by the ligated gut loop technique in 10-day-old piglets. Four strains demonstrated MRHA of sheep, goat, pig, dog, cat, chicken, and human erythrocytes but no MRHA of calf, horse, guinea pig, and rabbit erythrocytes. They were divided into pattern I (MSHA negative) and pattern II (MSHA positive). The remaining 12 strains were classified as pattern III (MRHA negative, MSHA positive) and pattern IV (hemagglutination negative). An antiserum produced against the MRHA-positive, MSHA-negative strain 4787 and absorbed by the same strain grown at 15 degrees C agglutinated all of the MRHA-positive strains but none of the MRHA-negative strains and completely inhibited the MRHA of these strains. The surface antigen against which this absorbed antiserum was directed was designated "F165." Fimbriae (pili) purified from strain 4787 hemagglutinated erythrocytes in the same mannose-resistant pattern as the strain itself and reacted with the anti-F165 antiserum in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, thus demonstrating the fimbrial nature of the hemagglutinating F165 antigen. The F165 antigen showed no serological relationship with the fimbrial antigens F4, F5, F6, and "F41". A positive correlation between the presence of F165 and the lack of enterotoxigenicity was demonstrated. Thus, we found a new mannose-resistant, hemagglutinating fimbrial antigen, F165, which is produced only by nonenterotoxigenic strains of E. coli serogroup O115. The possible role of F165 as a virulence attribute of E. coli strains causing extraintestinal disease is discussed.

Electrophoretic and immunochemical analyses of the lipopolysaccharides from various strains of Aeromonas hydrophila.

Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was used to analyze the lipopolysaccharides isolated from strains of Aeromonas hydrophila which exhibit virulence for fish and which autoaggregate during growth in static broth culture. The lipopolysaccharides contained O-polysaccharide chains of homogeneous chain length. Two of the strains produced a surface protein array, and immunofluorescence and phage-binding studies revealed that a number of these O-polysaccharide chains of homogeneous length traversed the protein array and were exposed on the cell surface. Immunochemical analyses by immunoblotting, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, immunofluorescence, and immunoprecipitation with both polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies revealed the presence of three epitopes on the polysaccharide moiety of this homogenous-chain-length lipopolysaccharide morphotype. One epitope was species serogroup specific and reactive by immunoblotting. This epitope was not present on the heterogeneous-chain-length O polysaccharides of nonautoaggregating strains of A. hydrophila examined. The second epitope was conformation dependent and cross-reactive with an epitope on the homogenous-chain-length O polysaccharides of Aeromonas salmonicida lipopolysaccharide. The third epitope was recognized by a monoclonal antibody and appeared to involve that region of the A. hydrophila and A. salmonicida lipopolysaccharide molecules which contained the O-polysaccharide-core oligosaccharide glycosidic linkage.

Immunity to Aeromonas salmonicida in coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) induced by modified Freund's complete adjuvant: its non-specific nature and the probable role of macrophages in the phenomenon.

Juvenile coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch), vaccinated with one intraperitoneal injection of formalin-killed virulent Aeromonas salmonicida cells suspended in saline, showed increased protection against approximately one LD60 of homologous challenge administered at 30 days post-vaccination. Under similar conditions, coho vaccinated with a modified complete Freund's adjuvant (MFCA) alone were also equally protected. When measured against a more severe A. salmonicida challenge of approximately one LD95, the strength of the MFCA-induced protection was found to exceed that produced by the homologous bacterin administered in saline or incomplete adjuvant, and the protection was still evident at 90 days post-treatment. Other more precise measurements indicated the LD50 for MFCA-treated coho to be up to 450 times that for saline-treated coho. Two other tested adjuvants, levamisole and MDP (N-acetyl-muramyl-L-alanyl-D-isoglutamine), administered in a modified Freund's incomplete adjuvant, also enhanced anti-A. salmonicida immunity but to a lesser degree. The active factor in MFCA was a killed Mycobacterium butyricum preparation, and the anti-A. salmonicida immunity it induced was non-specific because the immunity extended to two other serologically distinct fish pathogens tested: A. hydrophila (LD50 increase of 5.3-fold) and Vibrio ordalii (LD50 increase of 560-fold). Macrophages are believed to account for the M. butyricum-induced anti-A. salmonicida immunity because the immunity was a) non-specific, b) very rapid in onset (it was measurable by 4 days), and c) influenced by particulate preparations, known to affect macrophage function and immunity in mammals. The possible benefits of adjuvant-induced non-specific immunity in cultured fish are discussed.

Difference in the extracellular products of two strains of Aeromonas hydrophila virulent and weakly virulent for fish.

In this study we first compared the toxigenic profile of Aeromonas hydrophila strains virulent and weakly virulent for rainbow trout. The separation of the toxic factor for fish is also described. Both strains produced hemolytic, enterotoxic, and dermonecrotic activities; the weakly virulent strain produced 20 times more hemolysin. Only the cell-free supernatant of the virulent strain produced a toxic factor for fish. After passage on Sephacryl S-200, the toxic factor for fish was separated from the hemolysin. This toxic factor is heat labile.

Primary structure determination of Escherichia coli heat-stable enterotoxin of porcine origin.

The chemical characterization of Escherichia coli heat-stable enterotoxin (ST) is described. The toxin was isolated and purified to homogeneity from the E. coli strain F11 (PI55) of porcine origin. Following quantitative amino acid analysis, the enterotoxin was found to contain 18 amino acids including 6 cysteines, but was devoid of Ser, Val, Met, Ile, Lys, His, and Arg residues. All cysteine residues were found to be involved in disulfide bridges, even though their positions could not be localized. The enterotoxin thus has a molecular weight of 1979 and was shown to be an octadecapeptide with the following sequence: H2N-Asn-Thr-Phe-Tyr-Cys-Cys-Glu-Leu-Cys-Cys-Asn-Pro-Ala-Cys-Ala-Gly-Cys-Tyr- COOH. Its relationship to other known enterotoxins is discussed.

[Presence of the bacterial kidney disease in salmonid fish in Quebec (author's transl)]. / Présence de la maladie bactérienne du rein chez les salmonidés Québec.

Presence of the bacterial kidney disease in salmonid fish in Quebec During the summers of 1979 and 1980, wild and hatchery fish were analysed for the presence of the bacterial kidney disease (BKD) agent in salmonid fish in Quebec by the indirect immunofluorescence technique. The causative agent of BKD was detected in all hatcheries tested. Ten to 25% of the fish were positive. The presence of this agent was independent of age and species. We were unable to detect the BKD in fish from the rivers in the northern part of Quebec (over the 50th parallel). The first detection of BKD in Quebec was made in the spring of 1979 in a hatchery. A high mortality occurred in fish over a year old. The majority of the fish were positive by immunofluorescence and the bacteriun was isolated from some fish. Three weeks before the disease appeared, six ponds received fish from this hatchery. No mortality was observed in those ponds and in the middle of the summer the percentage of carrier fish by immunofluorescence was approximately 20%.

Serogrouping of motile Aeromonas species isolated from healthy and moribund fish.

A total of 195 strains of motile Aeromonas isolated from fish were characterized as Aeromonas hydrophila and Aeromonas sobria. In view of the frequency of isolation and the importance of motile Aeromonas species as fish pathogens, a serological classificaton of these organisms was attempted. Antisera were prepared in rabbits against formalinized whole cell suspensions and against boiled cells of 12 different isolates. Seventy-six strains could be grouped by tube agglutination with whole cells as antigen and anti-whole cell antiserum. However, only 39 strains were typable with anti-O serum. Differentiation was made between heat-stable antigens and heat-labile antigens which did not block the O agglutination reaction. The same heat-labile antigen could be associated with different heat-stable particulate antigens, and a relationship was observed between the heat-stable particulate antigens and the virulence of A. hydrophila for fish. In addition to these two types of antigen, motile Aeromonas possessed heat-stable soluble antigens which could be detected by indirect hemagglutination. One strain seemed to possess various heat-stable soluble antigens; so far, however, it does not appear to be feasible to use these antigens for serology. Finally, we also observed cross-reactions between some A. hydrophila and A. sobria strains.

A toxigenic profile of Aeromonas hydrophila and Aeromonas sobria isolated from fish.

Forty strains of motile Aeromonas were isolated from healthy and diseased fish. These strains were identified as A. hydrophila or a A. sobria. It was found that only strains of A. hydrophila produced a dermonecrotic factor and two zones of hemolysis on blood agar. All the strains of A. sobria tested and 72% of the A. hydrophila were enterotoxigenic. Finally, we observed that only A. hydrophila strains could regularly produce hemolysin at 10 degrees C.

Aeromonas hydrophila in rainbow trout: relation between virulence and surface characteristics.

Motile Aeromonas isolated from fish were studied for their virulence in fish in relation to some surface characteristics. The results showed that only the most virulent strains of A. hydrophila used in this study shared a common O antigen, did not agglutinate in acriflavine, settled down after boiling, and were resistant to the bactericidal action of fresh normal mammalian serum. The least virulent strains could not be grouped into this O antigenic group, they did not settle after boiling, and were sensitive to the bactericidal effect of serum. It is suggested that agglutination in acriflavine, stability after boiling, and sensitivity to normal fresh serum could be used for screening the Aeromonas isolates for virulence in fish.