title: Immunostimulation of Salmo salar L., and its effect on Lepeophtheirus salmonis (Krøyer) P-glycoprotein mRNA expression following subsequent emamectin benzoate exposure.
abstract: Control of sea lice, Lepeophtheirus salmonis, on farmed Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar, relies heavily on chemotherapeutants. However, reduced efficacy of many treatments and need for integrated sea lice management plans require innovative strategies. Resistance to emamectin benzoate (EMB), a major sea lice parasiticide, has been linked with P-glycoprotein (P-gp) expression. We hypothesized that host immunostimulation would complement EMB treatment outcome. Lepeophtheirus salmonis-infected Atlantic salmon were fed immunostimulatory or control feeds. Sea lice were collected for 24-h EMB bioassays 1 and 2 weeks prior to commencement of EMB treatment of the fish. Two weeks after cessation of immunostimulant-treated feed, EMB was administered at 150 μg kg(-1)  fish biomass for 7 days. The bioassay revealed stage, gender and immunostimulant-related differences in EMB EC(50) . Sea lice attached to salmon with a history of immunostimulation exhibited significantly greater survival than those on control feeds, despite similar levels of EMB in host tissues. Lepeophtheirus salmonis from salmon with a history of immunostimulation also exhibited higher P-gp mRNA expression as well as greater survivability compared to controls. Administration of immunostimulants prior to EMB treatment caused increased expression of P-gp mRNA which could have consequently caused decreased efficacy of the parasiticide.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, PE, Canada. oigboeli@upei.ca
authors.forename: O O
authors.initials: OO
authors.lastname: Igboeli
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Purcell
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wotton
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Poley
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Burka
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Fast
mesh_terms: D020168:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000977:Antiparasitic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D033342:Copepoda / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D005393:Fish Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D007114:Immunization / Q000662:veterinary; D007559:Ivermectin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010373:Lice Infestations / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020317:Salmo salar / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D020168:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1; D000977:Antiparasitic Agents; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D007559:Ivermectin; C108024:emamectin benzoate