Identification of trout and salmon bloods by simple immunological technique and by electrofocusing patterns of red cell enzyme superoxide dismutase.

Species identification of animal bloods is readily achieved by immunological tests. Differentiation among fish species on this basis is more difficult although considerable success has been achieved on the basis of both inter- and intra-specific differences in their serum proteins. This report describes a method for the identification of the different species of fish within the Salmonidae family and some coarse fish families on the basis of an immunological test and electrofocusing patterns of the enzyme superoxide dismutase from the red cell. The immunological technique relies on the development of a specific anti-trout (Salmonidae) serum which is used initially to differentiate the blood of a Salmonidae from other freshwater fish. Further discrimination, within the Salmonidae, is made on the basis of the different polymorphic forms of the enzyme superoxide dismutase separated in a pH 2.5 to 8 gradient. Using this technique, it is possible to differentiate among salmon, sea/brown trout, char, cheetah trout, and a number of varieties of rainbow trout.