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Ammonia-induced cellular and immunological changes in juvenile Cyprinus carpio infected with the blood fluke Sanguinicola inermis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 May 2002

P.-M.M. SCHUWERACK
Affiliation:
School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham, Surrey TW20 0EX, UK Centre for Applied Entomology and Parasitology, Huxley Building, School of Life Sciences, Keele University, Staffs ST5 5BG, UK
J.W. LEWIS
Affiliation:
School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham, Surrey TW20 0EX, UK
D. HOOLE
Affiliation:
Centre for Applied Entomology and Parasitology, Huxley Building, School of Life Sciences, Keele University, Staffs ST5 5BG, UK
N.J. MORLEY
Affiliation:
School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham, Surrey TW20 0EX, UK

Abstract

Immunological and structural changes in the thymus and pronephros of Cyprinus carpio infected with the blood fluke, Sanguinicola inermis for 30 days, and exposed to 0·5mg NH+4/l for 48 and 168h were investigated. Ultrastructural observations revealed cell disruption and highly vacuolated cytoplasm in the thymus. Of the cells that remained intact there was a significant increase in thrombocytes after 48h exposure to the pollutant. In addition, there was a decrease in lymphocytes following exposure to ammonia at both time-periods studied. In contrast the pronephros of fish exposed to the pollutant underwent relatively mild changes in cellular architecture although ammonia and time of exposure had significant effects on the proportions of several leucocyte types. A significant decrease in neutrophils, thrombocytes and lymphocytes occurred in fish exposed to the pollutant for 168h. Pronephric lymphocyte stimulation (cpm) by Con A and PWM increased in vitro, whereas the stimulation index was reduced in infected fish exposed to ammonia. Changes in the immune organs of S. inermis-infected carp treated with pollutant were both organ- and time-specific. The possible reasons for this are discussed and significance in relationship to parasitization assessed.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
2001 Cambridge University Press

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