Rapid detection and quantitative estimation of type A botulinum toxin by electroimmunodiffusion.
An experimental system is described for the detection and quantitative estimation of type A botulinum toxin by electroimmunodiffusion. The method is shown to be rapid, specific, and quantitative. As little as 14 mouse LD(50) per 0.1 ml of type A toxin was detected within 2 hr. When applied to experimentally contaminated foods such as canned tuna, pumpkin, spinach, green beans, and sausage, the technique detected botulinum toxin rapidly and identified it as to type and quantity. A specific rabbit type A antitoxin was produced for this in vitro system since the equine antitoxin (Center for Disease Control) tested in this experiment was found to be unsuitable.
D000818:Animals; D000992:Antitoxins; D001905:Botulinum Toxins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003014:Clostridium botulinum; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005396:Fish Products / Q000032:analysis; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis; D006736:Horses / Q000276:immunology; D005779:Immunodiffusion; D007122:Immunoelectrophoresis; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D008460:Meat / Q000032:analysis; D051379:Mice; D011817:Rabbits / Q000276:immunology; D013997:Time Factors; D014675:Vegetables / Q000032:analysis
D000992:Antitoxins; D001905:Botulinum Toxins