Immune Response of Fish to Parasitic Infection – A Review

By : Petchi Muthu M. , M. Rosalind George , Riji John , Dinesh R

Page No: 79-89

Abstract
Parasites are responsible for important economic losses among aquaculture industries, and hence there is high interest in studying the immune response of fish against them. The host’s age, behaviour, immunological status and environmental change can affect the association that is beneficial to the host whereas evasion of the host’s immune response favour the parasites. Cellular and humoral factors are involved in both innate and acquired immunity against parasites. However, many parasites invade and establish in body tissues and fluids where they are able to survive by virtue of a range of adaptations that reduce the efficacy of the immune system of fish. Pathogenic scuticociliate parasites can cause surface lesions and can also penetrate inside the body, where they feed on tissue and proliferate in the blood and in most internal organs, killing the host in a few days. Immune humoral factors, especially complement are of particular importance in defending fish against these ciliate parasites. The role of innate immune response and it is clear that adaptive immunity plays an essential part for eliminating and then mounting a solid resistance against subsequent microsporidian infections. Glucans are compounds that can modulate the immune system and potentiate resistance to microorganisms. These compounds have been proposed that can interact with receptors on the surface of leukocytes that result in the stimulation on non-specific immune responses. In this paper we have discussed on the mechanisms of antibody-mediated immunity and development of vaccines against parasites as well.

Authors :
Petchimuthu, M.
Ph.D Research Scholar, Department of Fish Pathology and Health Management.

Rosalind George, M.
Professor and Head, Department of Fish Pathology and Health Management, Dr. M.G.R. Fisheries College and Research Institute, Thalaignayiru,

Riji John. K.
Professor and Head, Department of Fish Pathology and Health Management, Fisheries College and Research Institute, Thoothukudi

Dinesh, R
Aquatic Service Centre, Sheng Long Biotech (India) Pvt Ltd. Tamil Nadu.