Identification of toxigenic Clostridium botulinum type E by enzyme immunoassay.

A sensitive double-sandwich enzyme immunoassay for identification of toxigenic Clostridium botulinum type E was developed with a type-E-specific antitoxin. The antitoxin was produced in a rabbit, following inoculation of minute quantities of type-E toxoid. The toxoid was prepared from a commercially available toxin by using a detoxification method. Cross-reactivity of the antitoxin with C. botulinum types A and B was avoided by absorption of the serum with alum-precipitated toxoids A and B. The immunoassay proved to be specific for C. botulinum type E because it did not react with culture filtrates of various Clostridium species, including nontoxigenenic "E-like" organisms and Clostridium sporogenes.