The use of monoclonal antibodies specific for seal immunoglobulins in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to detect canine distemper virus-specific immunoglobulin in seal plasma samples.

A method is described for the measurement of antigen-specific immunoglobulin in seal pup plasmas. Four monoclonal antibodies (H1a, H13a, H24b and H49a) raised against grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) immunoglobulin were used in an ELISA procedure. Levels of canine distemper virus (CDV) specific macroglobulin (IgM like protein) were found to peak approximately 10 days after the first vaccination. Levels of other smaller CDV-specific immunoglobulins (IgG like protein) also increased after vaccination. Using immunoblotting the CDV specific IgG-like protein reacted with a CDV protein, having a molecular weight of approximately 75 kDa.