The effect of temperature on the mucosal IgM antibody response to DNP-KLH in channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus)

Authors: Lange, Miles; Webster, Carl

Submitted to: Fish and Shellfish Immunology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/9/2017
Publication Date: 11/1/2017
Publication URL: https://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/5818046
Citation: Lange, M.D., Webster, C.D. 2017. The effect of temperature on the mucosal IgM antibody response to DNP-KLH in channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus). Fish and Shellfish Immunology. 70:493-497.

Interpretive Summary: Vaccination is still the most practical route for stimulating the catfish immune system in order to prevent disease. Research efforts in this area have revealed inconsistent results when trying to initiate protective immune responses in the mucosae (gill and skin). A number of factors contribute to these inconsistencies including the fish species, age of the fish, type of immunogen, duration of exposure to immunogens and the water temperature with which the immune response is stimulated. The current study sought to evaluate the effect of water temperature on the production of antibody responses in the mucosae to a laboratory-studied immunogen. Fish were bath immersed at different water temperatures and evaluated for the development of systemic and mucosal antibody responses. None of the temperature groups produced a systemic antibody response; however there were detectable antibodies in the mucosae. These data indicate that there are intrinsic differences in the capacity to generate antibody responses in the skin at different water temperatures. The results presented here highlight the importance of temperature on the development of mucosal antibody responses and further underscores the need for additional research to optimize vaccination practices within the catfish farming industry.

Technical Abstract: Bath immersion remains a practical route for immunizing against disease in channel catfish; however research efforts in this area have revealed variable results when activating mucosal Ab responses with different antigens. This is likely due to a number of factors including the individual species, age of the fish, preparation of the immunogens, and differences in the overall dosage and the duration of exposure to vaccines. The current study sought to evaluate the effect of water temperature on the in vivo mucosal adaptive immune response in channel catfish to a protein-hapten antigen, DNP-KLH. Fish were bath immersed at different water temperatures and periodically evaluated over an eighteen week period for the development of serum and mucosal IgM antibodies to DNP-KLH using an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. None of the temperature groups produced a serum antibody response; however there were detectable DNP-KLH specific IgM antibodies in the mucus starting at week eight. The extent of the mucosal antibody response and duration differed between the treatments. These data show that there are intrinsic differences in the capacity to generate in vivo mucosal Ab responses in the skin at different water temperatures and the implications of these findings to channel catfish farming will be discussed.