A rapid ELISA method for detecting specific antibody level against nodavirus in the serum of the sea bass, Dicentrachus labrax (L.):: application to the screening of spawners in a sea bass hatchery

The use of an indirect ELISA for the detection of the sea bass, Dicentrarchus labrax (L.), antibody to nodavirus is described. The sera of 110 adult sea bass (78 females and 32 males) maintained in captivity were analysed, and the females were individually classified in seropositive (16%) and seronegative (56%) groups, while some fish (28%) with low but detectable antibody levels were not classified. The proportion of seropositive males was smaller (3.1%) than the females. Repeated serological examination of 18 individually labelled females (spawners) revealed no changes over 5 months. The immunization of sea bass females with heat-killed nodavirus induced antibody titre as reflected by corresponding changes in ELISA optical density readings. The antibody level increased 4 weeks post-immunization and was still detectable after 41 weeks. These preliminary results suggest the possibility of detecting virus-positive or virus-negative animals in attempts to reduce and prevent the vertical transmission of the virus in sea bass hatcheries.