Acute Phase Protein ELISA Kits

In 2018, it was estimated that 70% (2.3 million tons) of salmon sold worldwide were farmed. A similar percentage of rainbow trout is also raised in aquaculture. Loss of fish due to disease cause significant economic impact. However, tools to monitor fish health, and mitigate losses, are lacking. In collaboration with a group of academic and industry scientists, sponsored by the Scottish Aquaculture Innovation Centre (SAIC), we participated in a project to identify biomarkers and develop assays that could be used for the detection of salmon with cardiomyopathy syndrome (CMS) and other diseases. Estimated losses due to CMS cost the salmon industry  €145 million per year. As part of a second SAIC-sponsored project, we are field-testing a rapid assay for salmon cardiac troponin-C to determine its use for monitoring CMS outbreaks. We are also evaluating several acute phase protein assays for the asessment of viral and bacterial infections in salmon and trout.

At present, we offer two ELISA kits for research use. One for the detection of salmon cardiac troponin-C (CTNC), the other for salmon skeletal muscle troponin-C (STNC). CTNC is expressed in cardiac and slow-twitch skeletal muscle. STNC is expressed in fast-twitch skeletal muscle. Diseases that cause muscle damage release troponin-C into the serum. As shown below, serum levels of both CTNC and STNC increase in fish with pancreatic disease.

We now manufacture an ELISA kit for measurement of IgM in rainbow trout and salmon serum. It uses an antibody that recognizes the IgM heavy chain. In salmon, it has been reported that total IgM levels increase during bacterial infection. We also offer two monoclonals, developed at Life Diagnostics, that recognize trout and salmon IgM heavy chain.