TWENTY-FOURTH ANNUAL EASTERN FISH HEALTH WORKSHOP Royal Pavilion Resort, Atlantic Beach, NC MARCH 9-11, 1999 Detection Of Perkinsus marinus Extracellular Proteins In The Tissues Of The Eastern Oyster Christopher A. Ottinger1,2, T. D. Lewis1, D. A. Shapiro1,3, M. Faisal1, and S. L. Kaattari1 1Dept. of Environmental Sciences, School of Marine Science, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, College of William and Mary, Gloucester Point, VA 23062; 2Current address: USGS/BRD, National Fish Health Research Laboratory, 1700 Leetown Rd., Kearneysville, WV 25430; 3Current address: Division of Infectious Diseases, Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, 11100 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH 44106 In vivo detection of P. marinus ,thus far, has been restricted to identification of whole cells either by enlargement and direct visualization of stained cells, immunostaining, or quantitative detection of P. marinus DNA. Unfortunately, although identification of cells or DNA can be a useful diagnostic test, such analyses do not necessarily reflect the presence of established infections. The ability to monitor the production and accumulation of secreted extracellular proteins (ECPs); however, can be taken as direct evidence of such an established infection. Hence, we undertook to develop antibodies specific to ECPs generated in vitro. These antibodies were used 1) to determine if the ECPs produced in vitro are present in naturally infected oysters, 2) to develop a quantitative ELISA for ECP, and finally, 3) to determine if the concentration of ECP can be correlated with the numbers of P. marinus cells in naturally infected oysters. Return to 24th Annual Eastern Fish Health Workshop Return to Leetown Science Center Home Page