Diagnosis of Aeromoniasis in Common Carp Fish by Indirect ELISA Test through Antibody Detection

Aeromonas hydrophila, a significant pathogen in aquaculture, poses severe threat to cultured fish species due to its high mortality rates and broad temperature tolerance. Traditional detection methods for A. hydrophila are time-consuming, require specific expertise, and are difficult to interpret. In this study, we established an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method for the rapid and sensitive detection of A. hydrophila using polyclonal antibodies. Fish samples exhibiting clinical symptoms of Aeromoniasis were collected and subjected to microbiological and molecular analysis for pathogen identification. Polyclonal antibodies against A. hydrophila were procured and optimized for ELISA. The reaction conditions were meticulously explored through a square matrix titration test to determine the optimal dilutions of antigen and antibody. Results indicated that the ELISA exhibited specificity towards A. hydrophila, with a defined cut-off value of 0.2481 for positive samples. The developed assay offers a reliable tool for the early detection of A. hydrophila infections in aquaculture, facilitating timely management strategies and mitigating economic losses.