Indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for monitoring antibodies in rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss.

An indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) has been described to detect and measure the antibodies in O. mykiss against a lambda bacteriophage antigen (strain c1187 Sam7). Antibodies were first detected six days after the first intraperitoneal injection and by day 21 all fish were positive. Maximum mean titres were detected on day 30 (3 days after the second injection). The mean titre declined by day 33 which was 6 days after second injection and remained constant from day 39 to day 45. The results suggest that immune response in a rainbow trout occurred faster and the fish were able to mount a very good response to viruses.