A rapid latex agglutination test for gender identification in the Atlantic bluefin tuna,Thunnus thynnus (Linnaeus) |
| |
| Authors: | Elisabetta Micera Rosa Zupa Antonia Zarrilli Antonio Camarda Angela M Moramarco Franca Acone Gregorio De Metrio Aldo Corriero |
| |
| Institution: | 1. Department of Animal Production, University of Bari, Valenzano (BA), Italy;2. *Contributed equally.;3. Department of Animal Health and Well‐Being, University of Bari, Valenzano (BA), Italy;4. Department of Public Health and Animal Sciences, University of Bari, Valenzano (BA), Italy;5. Department of Animal Biology, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy |
| |
| Abstract: | A rapid, one‐step agglutination assay has been developed, based on latex particles sensitized with antibodies against vitellogenin (Vtg), aimed at Atlantic bluefin tuna, Thunnus thynnus (Linnaeus) (ABFT), gender identification. The egg‐yolk precursor protein Vtg was used as a gender marker for the assay as it is a female‐specific protein synthesized during reproductive maturation. The presence of Vtg in the plasma was revealed in 60–120 s through an agglutination reaction by mixing small volumes of ABFT plasma and an anti‐Vtg antibody‐latex suspension on a microscope slide. The effectiveness of the present test was restricted to the months of May and June, concomitant with high circulating Vtg levels. Because of its rapidity and ease of performance in the field, the present gender identification assay could be useful for broodstock management in the aquaculture industry as well as in tagging studies on wild populations. |
| |
| Keywords: | bluefin tuna sex determination vitellogenin latex agglutination |
|
|
