A Latex Agglutination Test for the Rapid Identification of Vibrios

HUI CHENG CHEN AND TSUNG CHAIN CHANG

Food Industry Research and Development
Institute P.O. Box 246, Hsinchu 300, Taiwan, R.O.C.

ABSTRACT

   A latex agglutination test for the rapid identification of vibrios was developed. Anti-capsule antisera were raised in rabbits by immunizing the animals with mixed capsule antigens of 13 strains of Vibrio parahaemolyticus. Latex particles coated with the anti-capsule antibodies were used for the agglutination test of vibrios and other bacteria. Cross-reactions with some species of Aeromonas spp. were found, and could be eliminated by absorption of anti-capsule antibodies with Aeromonas media CCRC 12211. Latex coated with the absorbed and affinity-purified antibodies could agglutinate 99. 2% strains of vibrios (32 species, 123 isolates), and no cross-reactions were found with other bacteria (48 species, 69 isolates). Due to the high sensitivity and specificity, the latex agglutination test could be used for rapid identification of vibrios.

Key Words : Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Latex agglutination test, Rapid identification, Vibrios.