The effect of the microsporida Glugea stephani on the immunoglobulin levels of juvenile and adult winter flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus).
The microsporida Glugea stephani is an intracellular parasite that causes a decline in the serum IgM levels of both adult and juvenile winter flounder, shortly after introduction. This decline was noted in fish injected with spores or infected via an intermediary vector. The parasite also suppresses the humoral response to other antigens such as horse red blood cells. The suppression of the response to the antigen however, is related directly to the exposure time with regard to the kinetic state of the immune response. Less suppression occurred when the response was already past the initiation stage. The results implicate that the parasite may be interfering with the initiation of the response as well as at other stages. The presence of a soluble serum protein, which may contribute to this immunosuppression, was detected by electrophoresis.
Laudan
R
R
Department of Biological Sciences, Rutgers University, Newark, New Jersey 07107.
Stolen
J S
JS
Cali
A
A
D000818:Animals; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000276:immunology; D016782:Apicomplexa / Q000276:immunology*; D004199:Disease Vectors; D005393:Fish Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D005412:Flatfishes / Q000469:parasitology*; D005432:Flounder / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology*; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000378:metabolism*; D011528:Protozoan Infections / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D011529:Protozoan Infections, Animal; D013170:Spores / Q000276:immunology; D013997:Time Factors
D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D007075:Immunoglobulin M