Evaluation of two assay kits for thermostable direct hemolysin (TDH) as an indicator of TDH-related hemolysin (TRH) produced by Vibrio parahaemolyticus.

Reversed passive latex agglutination (RPLA) or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits with beads (Bead-ELISA) are commercially available in Japan to detect the thermostable direct hemolysin (TDH) produced by Vibrio parahaemolyticus isolates. We evaluated whether these kits can be used to assay the pathogenic toxin, TDH-related hemolysin (TRH), produced by some so-called Kanagawa phenomenon-negative V. parahaemolyticus strains isolated from patients with diarrhea. Our results showed that the two kits, RPLA and Bead-ELISA, can detect TRH, although they were originally developed for detection of TDH. This may be due to the use of polyclonal anti-TDH antisera that cross react with TRH. Although the sensitivity for TDH detection by RPLA and Bead-ELISA differed tenfold, that for TRH detection was essentially equal. The minimum concentration of TRH required for detection by the two assay kits was about 10 ng/ml.