Maternal transfer of humoral
specific and non-specific immune parameters to sea bream (Sparus aurata)
larvae
A. Hanif, V. Bakopoulos, G.J. Dimitriadis-2004
Fish and Shellfish Immunology, 17(5): 411-435
Abstract:
Immunisation of sea bream (Sparus aurata L.)
broodstock with a novel vaccine mixture of Photobacterium damsela
subsp. piscicida SK7 (Phdp) was performed during the period of
egg development and the changes in specific and non-specific humoral immune
parameters were measured. Total immunoglobulin level, specific antibody
titre, anti-protease activity and lysozyme activity were significantly
higher in immunised parents compared to the control. After spawning
significantly higher anti-protease activity, lysozyme activity and total
immunoglobulin level were detected in the eggs from immunised parents.
Specific antibody titres against Phdp were only detected in the eggs
from the immunised parents. The larvae from immunised parents also expressed
significantly higher levels of specific and non-specific humoral immune
parameters compared to the controls. A small amount of total immunoglobulin
was detected in larvae decreasing gradually until day 8 post-hatching and
then an increase was measured in larvae from immunised parents, whereas no
immunoglobulin was detected at days 4, 6 and 8 in larvae from non-immunised
parents. The specific antibody titre against Phdp was detected only
in larvae from immunised broodstock until day 14 post-hatching. The higher
humoral immune parameters in eggs and larvae from immunised parents in
comparison to eggs and larvae from non-immunised parents, suggest transfer
of maternal specific and non-specific immune factors.
(Division of Genetics, Department of Biology,
University of Patras, Patras 26500, Greece, e-mail of V. Bakopoulos: dimigeor@upatras.gr)