Comparison of antibodies in marine fish from clean and polluted waters of the New York Bight: relative levels against 36 bacteria.

Applied and Environmental Microbiology
R A RobohmR A Murchelano

Abstract

Fish from polluted waters are subject to increased prevalence of disease. Because they respond to bacterial pathogens by producing serum antibodies, it was possible to construct a seasonal serological record in three fish species from clean and polluted waters of the New York Bight. Antibody levels were determined by testing sera for agglutinating activity against 36 strains of bacteria. Evaluation of 5,100 antibody titrations showed the following. During warm months, summer flounder (Paralichthys dentatus) from the polluted area had significantly higher antibody levels and antibody to a greater diversity of bacteria than fish from the unpolluted area. Weakfish (Cynoscion regalis) from the same polluted area shared with summer flounder raised titers to many bacteria. The greatest proportion of raised titers was against Vibrio species, although prominent titers were also seen against Aeromonas salmonicida and Haemophilus piscium, bacteria usually associated with diseases in freshwater but not marine fish. Differences between polluted and clean waters were not as evident in winter flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus) during cold months. This could be due, in part, to reduced antibody production at colder temperatures. The dat...Continue Reading

References

Sep 29, 1978·Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences·L KeithO Callaghan
Sep 29, 1978·Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences·M J Sherwood, A J Mearns
Sep 29, 1978·Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences·A J Mearns, M J Sherwood
Jan 1, 1973·Journal of Bacteriology·T Kaneko, R R Colwell
Feb 2, 1968·Science·W A Janssen, C D Meyers
Feb 1, 1968·Journal of General Microbiology·M Scott

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