Defenses of susceptible and resistant Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) against the myxozoan parasite Ceratomyxa shasta.

ABSTRACT: We investigated intra-specific variation in the response of salmon to infection with the myxozoan Ceratomyxa shasta by comparing the progress of parasite infection and measures of host immune response in susceptible and resistant Chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha at days 12, 25 and 90 post exposure. There were no differences in invasion of the gills indicating that resistance does not occur at the site of entry. In the intestine on day 12, infection intensity and Ig(+) cell numbers were higher in susceptible than resistant fish, but histological examination at that timepoint showed more severe inflammation in resistant fish. This suggests a role for the immune response in resistant fish that eliminates some parasites prior to or soon after reaching the intestine. Susceptible fish had

SUBMITTER: Bjork SJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3996901 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature