Abstract |
The feasibility of producing antibodies to DDT and Malathion derivatives was accomplished by immunizing animals with pesticide-protein complexes in which the protein carrier was derived from the species being immunized. DDA-rabbit serum albumin or Malathion anhydride-rabbit serum albumin conjugates were injected into rabbits in complete Freund's adjuvants at multiple intradermal sites, and antibody responses were encountered by the third or fourth injection. The results demonstrate that (1) it is possible to develop specific antibodies to two pesticide derivatives, DDA and Malathion anhydride (2) these antibodies are highly specific for each pesticide derivative; and (3) given enough time, the technical difficulties which have been encountered in utilizing these antibodies for the development of a highly sensitive immunoassay procedure could be resolved. Such a technique would offer investigators interested in pollution problems a simultaneously highly specific and highly sensitive method for detecting and measuring these pesticides, without the need for preliminary treatment of the samples being investigated. (Author) |