Two monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) binding to a toxic extracellular metallo‐proteinase of Aeromonas salmonicida subsp. achromogenes, AsaP1, were produced. Both reacted with common epitopes of the native enzyme and recognized this 20 kDa antigen on Western blots. One of these Mabs had an inhibitory effect on the caseinase activity of the exotoxin. A Mab‐based ELISA was set up and evaluated for serological detection of AsaP1 in bacterial culture filtrates. The exotoxin was identified serologically in the extracellular products of 11 of 26 atypical Aer. salmonicida isolates, including the type strain for subsp. achromogenes NCIMB 1110. The ELISA was approximately 100‐fold more sensitive in detecting AsaP1 compared with an azocasein assay. The established serological test enables AsaP1 to be quantified reliably with a lower detection limit of about 0·12 ng ml−1 and has a potential use for the phenotypic differentiation of atypical Aer. salmonicida isolates.
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