Vol 27 No 2 December - The Indian Society for Parasitology
Vol 27 No 2 December - The Indian Society for Parasitology
Vol 27 No 2 December - The Indian Society for Parasitology
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Journal of Parasitic Diseases<br />
<strong>Vol</strong>. <strong>27</strong> (2) Dec. 2003, pp. 94-98<br />
Study of humoral immune response to Helminth<br />
infection in some fishes of Kashmir<br />
M.Z. CHISHTI*, SHAH FEROZ, MAHBOOB. H.<br />
P.G. Department of Zoology, University of Kashmir, Srinagar-190006<br />
<strong>The</strong> humoral immune response of Schizothorax niger and Cyprinus carpio to helminth infection was studied.<br />
Precipitating antibodies to Adenoscolex oreini (Cestode) and Pomphorhynchus kashmirensis<br />
(Acanthocephala) were demonstrated using agar gel diffusion technique. Immunochemical investigations<br />
of these antibodies indicated that they were macroglobulins resembling IgM of mammals. <strong>The</strong> fishes<br />
infected with helminth parasites responded well with the production of precipitating antibody to the<br />
antigens of the parasite in vivo. <strong>The</strong> experiments were designed to investigate the effect of helminth parasite<br />
infection on the humoral immune response of some fishes which were reared in a pond under controlled<br />
conditions and the same experiments were per<strong>for</strong>med on the sera of infected fishes of Wular lake and the<br />
results were compared .It was observed that with the seasonal variation in the helminth infection in these<br />
fishes, the antibody titre changed considerably. It was also observed that due to fall in temperature during<br />
winter months, the antibody level against helminth parasites went down, there<strong>for</strong>e it was not detected by<br />
immunodiffusion test. <strong>The</strong> rate and magnitude of antibody production by the host was determined by the<br />
helminth infection with respect to temperature.<br />
Key Words: Acanthocephala, cestode, Cyprinus carpio, Humoral immune response, Schizothorax niger.<br />
<strong>The</strong> present investigation gave the evidence that adult<br />
C.carpio and S.niger produce specific immuno-<br />
globulins in response to both the parasites. <strong>The</strong>se<br />
immunoglobulins would seem to closely resemble the<br />
macroglobulins of mammals and their production<br />
determined by ambient temperature.<br />
INTRODUCTION<br />
erological and haematological studies of fishes<br />
Shave been used as a probe <strong>for</strong> the diagnosis of fish<br />
diseases in connection with pollution and other<br />
environmental factors. Although, now much<br />
in<strong>for</strong>mation is available on the fundamental principles<br />
of fish immunology, review on the subject has been<br />
presented by Clem and Leslie (1969) and Corbel<br />
(1975). <strong>The</strong>re has been little emphasis on the role of<br />
immunity in parasitic diseases, particular report of<br />
Nigrell and Breder (1934) is available who<br />
demonstrated acquired protective immunity in fish to<br />
parasitic antigens and that of Harris (1972) who<br />
characterized both the antigen and antibody involved<br />
in the fish host-parasite system. In the present<br />
instance, two helminth parasites, namely,<br />
Pomphorhynchus kashmirensis (Acanthocephala) and<br />
Adenoscolex oreini (Cestode) were selected with an<br />
aim to conduct immunological studies in Cyprinus<br />
carpio and Schizothorax niger inhabiting the fresh<br />
water of world famous Wular lake of Kashmir. Both<br />
* Corresponding Author<br />
the parasites (P. kashmirensis and A. orienti) occur in<br />
the gastro-intestinal tract of fishes. <strong>The</strong> approach of<br />
analysis of fish humoral immune response to these<br />
parasites was largely dictated by the availability of<br />
each parasite. Experimental immunization was<br />
however, only conducted in case of C. carpio which<br />
was reared in a controlled condition in a pond. <strong>The</strong><br />
immune-diffusion results obtained from immunized<br />
C. carpio with PBS antigen of P. kashmirensis were<br />
correlated with results obtained from naturally<br />
infected C. carpio with the same parasite.<br />
MATERIALS AND METHODS<br />
Collection of fish:- <strong>The</strong> live fishes were collected<br />
from Wular lake by nets and were transferred into<br />
buckets filled with water. Sometimes the blood from<br />
the fishes was collected on the spot. <strong>The</strong> fishes were