Development, comparison, and validation using ELISAs for the determination of domoic acid in California sea lion body fluids.
Mortalities of California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) attributed to the neurotoxin domoic acid (DA) produced by the diatom Pseudo-nitzschia have occurred repeatedly along the U.S. west coast since the late 1990s. Quantifying the amount of DA in these animals and correlating this information with the presence of DA in phytoplankton and the local food web has become a research focus for many scientists. However, differences in materials, equipment, technical capability, budgets, and objectives of the various groups and/or agencies involved in this work have influenced the DA quantification platforms used. The goal of the present study was to compare the performance of two commercially available ELISAs for the determination of DA in a spectrum of California sea lion body fluids and to compare the results with LC/MS of the same samples. The results indicated differences among these approaches, presumably owing to matrix effects (particularly urine) and antibody reactivities. This information implies that care should be taken in attempting to compare datasets generated using different analytical platforms and interpreting the results of published studies.
Erica L
EL
Seubert
Meredith D A
MD
Howard
Raphael M
RM
Kudela
Thomas N
TN
Stewart
R Wayne
RW
Litaker
Richard
R
Evans
David A
DA
Caron
D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies; D001826:Body Fluids / Q000737:chemistry*; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid / Q000379:methods; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D007608:Kainic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D009467:Neuromuscular Depolarizing Agents / Q000737:chemistry; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D046070:Sea Lions
D000906:Antibodies; D009467:Neuromuscular Depolarizing Agents; C012301:domoic acid; D007608:Kainic Acid