Solid-phase radioimmunoassays for quantitative antibody determination of Clostridium perfringens type D epsilon toxin.

Two reversed solid-phase radioimmunoassays were developed for quantitative determination of antibodies against Clostridium perfringens type D epsilon toxin. 125I-labeled prototoxin was used in the bromoacetylcellulose-bound antibody method and in the antibody-coated tube method. The antibody values which can be detected by the assays are in the range of 0.004 IU/ml of investigated serum. The methods allow the screening investigation of large groups of vaccinated sheep in a rapid and inexpensive way, and are very suitable for measuring small amounts of C. perfringens D epsilon antibodies with a small experimental error.