TWENTY-THIRD ANNUAL EASTERN FISH HEALTH WORKSHOP JOHN CARVER INN, PLYMOUTH, MA 30 MARCH - 2 APRIL, 1998 Development Of Immunodiagnostics For Perkinsus marinus Teresa D. Lewis, C. A. Ottinger, and S. L. Kaattari Department of Environmental Sciences, School of Marine Science, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, College of William and Mary, Gloucester Point, VA 23062 The identification of Perkinsus marinus, the causative agent of Dermo in the eastern oyster has been routinely performed employing Ray's fluid thioglycollate medium (RFTM). This procedure, developed in 1952, is a culture based diagnostic which depends upon the dissection of oyster tissue and subsequent incubation in RFTM for a period of 7 - 10 days. A positive diagnosis is made by microscopic observation of stained Perkinsus hydrospores. Production of polyclonal and monoclonal antisera has been attempted in a variety of laboratories to provide a more rapid means of identifying infection by this protozoan pathogen. In our laboratory, the immunization of rabbits with extracellular proteins (ECP) secreted by P. marinus in vitro has produced a polyclonal antiserum for use in a diagnostic ELISA. These ECP have also been utilized for the production of monoclonal antibodies. The development of a confirmatory Western blot, however, has proven problematic for use with oyster homogenates. The results of these studies indicate the need for optimization of assay conditions, but represents an advance in the development of a rapid and unequivocal immunodiagnostic.   Return to 23rd Annual Eastern Fish Health Workshop Return to Leetown Science Center Home Page