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Detection of Clostridium botulinum types C and D toxin by ELISA
Author(s) -
THOMAS RJ
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
australian veterinary journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.382
H-Index - 59
eISSN - 1751-0813
pISSN - 0005-0423
DOI - 10.1111/j.1751-0813.1991.tb00769.x
Subject(s) - botulism , clostridium botulinum , toxin , microbiology and biotechnology , polyclonal antibodies , neurotoxin , clostridiaceae , virology , inoculation , clostridium , biology , botulinum toxin , antibody , bacteria , immunology , biochemistry , genetics , neuroscience
SUMMARY An ELISA to detect Clostridium botulinum type D toxin was developed using polyclonal antibodies to a semi‐purified toxic complex of the neurotoxin. Sensitivity of the ELISA for detecting type C and type D toxin compared with mouse inoculation was 70% and specificity 96% on samples from animals with botulism diagnosed on clinical signs and herd history. However, both mouse inoculation and the ELISA failed to detect toxin in many animals with a presumptive diagnosis of botulism. Some cross‐reaction was seen with Clostridium novyi type A, but not with other clostridial species. While the ELISA described here cannot replace mouse inoculation for the diagnosis of botulism, it is a useful additional test.