The immune response in teleosts: the effects of temperature and heavy metals

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O'Neill, J.G., 1978. The immune response in teleosts: the effects of temperature and heavy metals. PhD, Nottingham Trent University.

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Abstract

The humoral neutralisation antibody titre response to single intraperitoneal inoculations of MS2 bacteriophage was followed in three species of teleost (Salmo trutta, Cyprinus carpio and Notothenia rossil) and was measured as a 50% bacteriophage neutralisation titre (SD50). The neutralisation activity was confined to the heavy molecular weight fraction of the sera from both primary and secondary inoculated fish.

Primary and secondary antibody responses were observed, the latter showed enhancement and immune memory, and the quantitative antibody response was modified by different antigen concentrations and by the addition of Freund's adjuvants.

Water temperature was an important factor affecting the clearance of MS2 bacteriophage from the sera and modified the amount of humoral antibody formed. Inter-species adaptation of the humoral Immune response to temperature was observed though evidence of acclimation at low temperatures was not demonstrated.

The actions of antigen concentration, adjuvants and temperature in the control of humoral immune response have been discussed.

A preliminary histological investigation was made of the uptake and distribution of intraperitoneal inoculations of MS2 bacteriophage and carbon in the tissues of S. trutta.

S. trutta and C. carpio were continuously exposed to sub lethal levels of waterborne heavy metals (0,75 mg Ni dm-3,0.l4 to 2.13 mg Zn dm-3, 0.29 mg Cu dm-3 and 0.01 mg Cr dm-3). The rate of MS2 bacteriophage clearance and the humoral antibody response were suppressed though antibody titres of the secondary response were found to be enhanced by exposure to nickel and 1,06 mg zinc dm-3.

Intraperitoneally inoculated concentrations of lead (0.01 to 0.3 mg 100 g-1) and cadmium (0.05 to 0.2 mg 100 g -1) suppressed an already raised tertiary immune response to MS2 bacteriopliage in S. trutta and the ability to respond to a further bacteriophage challenge was diminished.

The suppressive and adjuvant effects of heavy metals, their mode of action and stressor activity have been discussed in relation to humoral immunity and disease.