Vol 27 No 2 December - The Indian Society for Parasitology

JPD : Vol. 27 (2), 2003
Humoral immune response to helminths in fishes
97
were obtained in S. niger. The appearance of in β fraction. A similar situation occurs in teleosts
precipitation patterns that were encountered in this immunized with antigens, increases in the β-2 and
analysis were the molecules that share an identical gamma-1 globulins with fall in albumin levels were
antigen structure and exhibited a pattern of complete noted by Summerfelt (1966) in immunized gold fish.
coalescence of the precipitation lines, while those with Our results are in accordance with the findings of
partial antigen difference show crossing over of Buchmann et al, (2001) who reported that both
precipitin bands.
specific and nonspecific factors in humoral and
To conclude, S. niger and C. carpio infected with A. cellular branches of the fish immune system are well
orieni and P. kashmirensis responded with the developed, thus production of specific antibodies in
production of precipitating antibody to the antigens of the fish B-lymphoeyte against natural and synthetic
these parasites. The low antibody titre may be partly antigens has been well characterized.
explained by the relative insensitivity of the BIBLIOGRAPHY
Ouchterlony tests. It is possible however that a large
Alien E W and McDonial A. 1973. A study of the relationship of
proportion of the serum antibody may be bound to the temperature to antibody formation in the cold-blooded animals.
parasite, and this could be significant where very large Journal of Immunology. 32: 143-9
numbers of helminths occur in the host. Hence it is Bisset KD. 1948. The effect of temperature upon antibody
possible that the parasites bound sufficient antibody so production in coldblooded vertebrates. Journal of pathology
that very little is available for immunological assay.
and Bacteriology. 60: 87-92.
Buchmann K, Lindenstorm T, Bresciani J. 2001. Defence
DISCUSSION
mechanism against parasites in fish and the prospect for
The study of humoral immune response gave a deep vaccine. Acta Parasitologica, 46(2): 71-81.
insight in understanding the impact of parasitism and Clem LW and Sigal MM. 1963. Comparative immunochemical
ambient temperature on antibody production in the and immunological reactions in marine fishes with soluble viral
and bacterial antigens. Federations Proceedings 22: 1138-49.
fresh water fishes of the Kashmir waters. Our results
are in accordance with Alien and McDonial (1973) and Clem LW and Leslie GA. 1969. Phylogeny of Immunoglobin
structure and function in immunology and development, (ed.
Bisset (1948) who reported a great effect of
M. Adinolfi) pp. 62-88 Laven Press Ltd.
temperature on the production of antibodies in fishes
and other cold blooded animals. Cushing (1942) Clem
Corbel MJ. 1975. The Immune response in fishes: a review. Journal
of Fish Biology. 7: 539-53.
and Sigal (1963) and Alien and McDonial (1973)
suggested that the immune response of the fish is not as Cushing JE. 1942. An effect of temperature upon antibody
production in fish. Journal of Immunology. 45: 123-9.
fully evolved as that of higher vertebrates. The single
class of immunoglobulins in fishes compared with the Evelyn TPT. 1971. The agglutinin response to Socky Salmon
vaccinated intraperitonially with a heat killed preparation of
several classes in mammals certainly supports this bacterium responsible for salmonid kidney disease. Journal of
view, whether this lack of a wide range of Wild Life Diseases. 7: 328-35.
immunoglobulin classes which results in deficiency of
Fine J and Drilhen A. 1961. Existence de globulines de faible
fish immune response to parasites is not yet known. mobilite electrophoretique dans Ie srum de languille soumise a
Some examples of protective immunity have been des injections repetees de serum humane. Comptes rendus
given by Nigerlli and Breeder (1934) who noted that hebdonadaires Des seances de LA cadame des sciences. 252 :
3891-3.
ability of marine fish to develop protection against the
external parasite Benedenia. Other workers Harris JE. 1972. The immune response of a Cuprinoid fish to
infection of the Acanthocephalan (Pomphorhynchus laevis).
(Buchmann et al., 2001) have also recorded increase in
International Journal Parasitology. 2: 459-469.
the serum globulins of fishes infected with the
Klontiz GW, Yasutake WT and Ross AJ. 1966. Bacterial disease of
parasitic agents. As majority of teleost species have
salmonidi in Western States; pathogenis of Furuncolisis in the
β-electrophoretic mobility (Fine and Drilhen 1961; rainbow trout. American Journal ofVeterinary Research. 27:
Klontz et al., 1966: Evelyn, 1971 Marchalonis. 1971) 1455-1460
it is consistent that the sera of infected C.carpio and S. Marchalonis J. 1971. Isolation and partial characterization of
niger should show increase in the globulins, especially Immunoglobulins of Gold fish. Carassius auratus and carp
(Cyprinus carpio).Immunology, 20; 161-173.