Evaluation of Potential of a Quali Embryo Bioassay to Replace the Mouse Bioassay for the Assessment of Botulinum Toxin Activity

Approach: Evaluate quail embryos as a substitute for the mouse in a bioassay for the assessment of Botulinum toxin activity. In the first experiments the botulinum toxin will be injected into embryos after 15 day of incubation and the toxin at detectible levels should inhibit the embryos ability to pip into the air cell and initiate pulmonary respiration and ventilatory movements. The Bubby candling system will quantify both heart rate and ventilatory movements in incubation embryos and the absence of ventilation will indicate the effective dose of the toxin. Subsequent experiments will evaluate the toxin within food sources that will be consumed by the embryo with the consumption of allantic fluid prior to piping.