Development of an Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) for the Detection of Aeromonas salmonicida in Fish Tissue

Abstract An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed to detect the presence of Aeromonas salmonicida in fish kidney. Aeromonas salmonicida was detected with ELISA in both experimentally and naturally infected fish. A rapid (90 min) test was used to diagnose and confirm furunculosis in freshly dead and moribund fish. Additionally, a more sensitive test was used to detect A. salmonicida in live fish. The limit of sensitivity appears to be 103 bacteria/mL. The ELISA was specific, and it offers a rapid and sensitive means of diagnosing furunculosis during outbreaks and screening large populations offish for the presence of A. salmonicida.