Page 1428 - Veterinary Immunology, 10th Edition

immunodiffusion. This technique is called immunoelectrophoresis
VetBooks.ir and is used to identify proteins in body fluids (Fig. 42.24).

FIG. 42.24 The technique of immunoelectrophoresis (see text for
details).

Immunoelectrophoresis involves the electrophoresis of the
antigen mixture in agar gel in one direction. A trough is then cut in

the agar parallel to this line of separated proteins. Antiserum
against the whole serum is placed in this trough and allowed to
diffuse laterally. When the diffusing antibodies encounter antigen,
curved lines of precipitate are formed. One arc of precipitation
forms for each of the constituents in the antigen mixture. This

technique can resolve the proteins of normal serum into 25 to 40
distinct precipitation lines (Fig. 42.25). This technique has been used
to identify the absence of a normal serum protein, as in animals

with a congenital deficiency of some complement components. It is
also used to detect the presence of excessive amounts of an
individual component, as in animals with myeloma (see Fig. 15.23).

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