Quantification of low levels of rainbow trout immunoglobulin by enzyme immunoassay using two monoclonal antibodies.

An enzyme immunoassay has been developed for quantitation of low levels of trout immunoglobulin (Ig). This assay uses two monoclonal antibodies, one as capture antibody and the other as detector, directed against two non-overlapping epitopes on the heavy chains of trout Ig. The assay shows high reproducibility and can detect 0.12 micrograms trout Ig ml-1. Coefficients of intra- and interassay variation ranged from 3.8 to 7.1% and from 7.9 to 17.4%, respectively. Analysis of 37 healthy trout showed increasing serum Ig concentration with size. The mean Ig concentration was 0.67 mg ml-1 for trout of about 20 g and 9.1 mg ml-1 for trout weighing more than 125 g.