Neutralizing antibodies for infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus in eggs of steelhead trout (Salmo gairdneri).

Neutralizing antibodies specific for infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV) were isolated from eggs of spawning Steelhead trout (Salmo gairdneri), using sodium sulfate precipitation. The isolated material was used in place of the primary antibody (rabbit anti-IHNV) in a protein immunoblotting assay to detect IHNV proteins specifically. The egg component that bound specifically to IHNV proteins was determined to be trout antibody by using antiserum toward trout immune globulins as the second antibody conjugate in the protein immunoblotting assay. The antibody recovered from eggs neutralized IHNV infectivity in cell culture. An average of 87.5% decrease in infectivity was observed.