Biotechnology and Bioinformatics (1+1)

3.2.3. Application of Monoclonal Antibodies in Fish Farming

Though the technology for MAb production has been in existence for more than 25 years, yet this application to fish farming is still in its infancy.

Today, monoclonal antibodies to several viral and bacterial pathogens of fish and shellfish are available in the market (Table 1). It has been possible to develop rapid, simple, cheap, specific and sensitive MAb based immunodiagnostic kits for several microbial pathogens.

MAb based diagnostic kits such as ELISA and immunodot have even been simplified to the field level for use by farmers. Furthermore, detection of minute serological difference among bacterial and viral variants of fish and shellfish is possible by MAb based epitope analysis. This has helped immensely in serological and epidemiological studies.

• Monoclonal antibodies were produced against enterotoxin of Vibrio cholerae, a brackishwater and estuarine bacterium which causes cholera.
• MAbs based ELISAs have been used for studies of Vibrio anguillarum strain s and for rapid diagnosis of clinical cases of Enteric Red mouth (Yersinia ruckeri) and furunculosis (Aeromonas salmonicidae) in fish farms.
• MAbs are also used to study piscine parasities. MAbs have been developed against Bonamia ostreae, Ceratomyxa shastia, Cryptobia salmonsitica, Perkinsus maximus are pathogenic protozoan of shell fish.
• MAbs have also been employed for analysis of lymphocyte receptors and characterization of lymphocyte population in carp, for immunopurification of salmon prolactin and for development of sandwich ELISA system for both salmon prolactin and somatotropin.
• MAbs to A. hydrophila, EUS fungus Aphanomyces invadans and white spot virus of shrimp have been produced and being used in diagnosis in India.
• Application of a MAb against virus:- Infectious hematopoietic necrosis (IHN), caused by IHN virus (IHNV), is a severe and acute epizootic among salmonid fish. This disease is now widespread. MAbs against IHNV HV - 7601, were produced.
• Detection of Infectious Pancreatic Necrosis virus ( IPNV ) by ELISA. ELISA could be used for the identification of different serotype of IPNV.