title: Comparison of the mouse bioassay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay procedures for the detection of type A botulinal toxin in food.
abstract: Samples of chili linked to a foodborne illness outbreak of type A botulism were examined for preformed type A botulinal toxin using two enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) procedures and the mouse bioassay. One of the samples was positive for type A botulinal toxin and three of the samples were negative for type A, B, E, and F botulinal toxins using the three methods. The mouse bioassay indicated that type A toxin was present at the 10,000 minimal lethal dose per gram (MLD per g) of product. The ELISA tests indicated a toxicity of 7,650 MLD per g with one method and 8,350 MLD per g with the other method. The sample toxicity determined by the ELISA was estimated by comparing samples to a standard curve generated with standard type A neurotoxin in casein buffer. The ELISA methods are more rapid than the mouse bioassay, since the toxin type can be determined in 1 day. The mouse bioassay is more sensitive than the ELISA but usually requires multiple assays to obtain the toxin type and toxicity. Type A culture isolates from the sample were also verified using one ELISA method.
authors.affiliation: US Food and Drug Administration, 60 Eighth Street N.E., Atlanta, Georgia 30309, USA. jferreir@ora.fda.gov
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Eliasberg
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Edmonds
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Harrison
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001681:Biological Assay / Q000379:methods*; D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D003013:Clostridium / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods*; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis*; D051379:Mice; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A