Immunohistochemical Detection of a Unique Protein Within Cells of Snakes Having Inclusion Body Disease, a World-wide Disease Seen in Members of the Families Boidae and Pythonidae

Overview

Journal PLoS One

Specialties General Medicine
Science

Date 2013 Dec 17

PMID 24340066

Citations 17

Authors

Li-Wen Chang

Ann Fu

Edward Wozniak

Marjorie Chow

Diane G Duke

Linda Green

Karen Kelley

Jorge A Hernandez

Elliott R Jacobson

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Inclusion body disease (IBD) is a worldwide disease in captive boa constrictors (boa constrictor) and occasionally in other snakes of the families Boidae and Pythonidae. The exact causative agent(s) and pathogenesis are not yet fully understood. Currently, diagnosis of IBD is based on the light microscopic identification of eosinophilic intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies in hematoxylin and eosin stained tissues or blood smears. An antigenically unique 68 KDa protein was identified within the IBD inclusion bodies, called IBD protein. A validated immuno-based ante-mortem diagnostic test is needed for screening snakes that are at risk of having IBD. In this study, despite difficulties in solubilizing semi-purified inclusion bodies, utilizing hybridoma technology a mouse anti-IBD protein monoclonal antibody (MAB) was produced. The antigenic specificity of the antibody was confirmed and validated by western blots, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, immuno-transmission electron microscopy, and immunohistochemical staining. Paraffin embedded tissues of IBD positive and negative boa constrictors (n=94) collected from 1990 to 2011 were tested with immunohistochemical staining. In boa constrictors, the anti-IBDP MAB had a sensitivity of 83% and specificity of 100% in detecting IBD. The antibody also cross-reacted with IBD inclusion bodies in carpet pythons (Morelia spilota) and a ball python (python regius). This validated antibody can serve as a tool for the development of ante-mortem immunodiagnostic tests for IBD.

Citing Articles

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Boid Inclusion Body Disease Is Also a Disease of Wild Boa Constrictors.

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