Immunoreactive antigens of the outer membrane protein of Aeromonas hydrophila, isolated from goldfish, Carassius auratus (Linn.)

Aeromonas hydrophila causes disease under stress conditions or in concert with infection by other pathogens in goldfish. Sero-diagnostic and/or immunoprophylactic tools against Aeromonas infection in goldfish are not available so far. The present study was undertaken to fractionate and characterise the outer membrane proteins (OMP) of A. hydrophila and to identify suitable immunoreactive components. A total of 10 fractions were generated from crude OMP antigens upon gel permeation and subsequent ion-exchange chromatography. One of the fractionated antigens (GPID2), primarily a 57-kDa polypeptide, showed maximum sero-reactivity, even higher than the crude OMP. Suitability of GPID2 antigen for use in diagnostic preparations was assessed by dip-stick ELISA. In vitro goldfish lymphoproliferative ability of fractionated antigen, GPIID2 (primarily a 23-kDa polypeptide) was observed to be higher than all the fractionated antigens as well as crude OMP. It can be concluded that the 57 kDa and 23 kDa polypeptides of the OMP of A. hydrophila, possessing high immunoreactivity, should be given due attention while preparing immunodiagnostic and immunoprophylatic tools against Aeromonas infections in goldfish.