Comparative evaluation of some bioassay models & serological tests for the detection of Salmonella enterotoxin

Two bioassay models viz., rabbit ligated ileal loop (RLIL) and the Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell culture and three serological methods viz., enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), Biken and staphylococcal coagglutination (CoA) tests were standardized and used for the detection of Salmonella enterotoxin. A total of 37 strains belonging to 14 different serotypes of Salmonella were tested simultaneously by all the five assay models. Serological tests were standardized with antiserum against the purified enterotoxin of S. typhimurium (P/536). The CHO test was found to be the most sensitive (86.37%) followed by ELISA and CoA test (83.78%) each and Biken test (78.37%). The RLIL test was found to be least sensitive (64.86%) for detection of Salmonella enterotoxin.