Immunosuppression in juvenile carp, Cyprinus carpio L.: the effects of the corticosteroids triamcinolone acetonide and hydrocortisone 21-hemisuccinate (cortisol) on acquired immunity and the humoral antibody response to Ichthyophthirius multifiliis Fouquet |
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| Authors: | G HOUGHTON R A MATTHEWS |
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| Institution: | Department of Biological Sciences, Plymouth Polytechnic, Devon, England |
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| Abstract: | Abstract. Juvenile carp, Cyprinus carpio L., were immunized against Ichthyophthirius multifiliis following controlled exposure to the infective theront stage. On challenge, with a potentially lethal dose of theronts, all immunized fish survived, in contrast to 100% mortality in non-immunized fish. Fourteen days following exposure to the challenge infection, immune and non-immune fish were injected intraperitoneally with either triamcinolone acetonide or hydrocortisone 21-hemisuccinate (cortisol) at doses of 100 μg or 10 μg/g body weight. Controls, including immunized and non-immunized fish, were injected with saline or left untreated. Six days following corticosteroid administration, fish were exposed to challenge infections of I multifiliis. All fish treated with corticosteroid developed heavy infections with up to 100% mortality. Repeat experiments gave comparable results. Serum antibody levels recorded in similarly treated fish at intervals of 12 h and/or 1 week following corticosteroid administration were found to be relatively unaffected. The results are discussed in relation to the immune response to I multifiliis . |
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