News Insights into the Host-Parasite Interactions of Amyloodiniosis in European Sea Bass: A Multi-Modal Approach

Abstract

Amyloodiniosis is a disease resulting from infestation by the ectoparasitic dinoflagellate Amyloodinium ocellatum (AO) and is a threat for fish species such as European sea bass (ESB, Dicentrarchus labrax), which are farmed in lagoon and land-based rearing sites. During the summer, when temperatures are highest, mortality rates can reach 100%, with serious impacts for the aquaculture industry. As no effective licensed therapies currently exist, this study was undertaken to improve knowledge of the biology of AO and of the host-parasite relationship between the protozoan and ESB, in order to formulate better prophylactic/therapeutic treatments targeting AO. To achieve this, a multi-modal study was performed involving a broad range of analytical modalities, including conventional histology (HIS), immunohistochemistry (IHC) and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). Gills and the oro-pharyngeal cavity were the primary sites of amyloodiniosis, with hyperplasia and cell degeneration more evident in severe infestations (HIS). Plasmacells and macrophages were localised by IHC and correlated with the parasite burden in a time-course experimental challenge. CLSM allowed reconstruction of the 3D morphology of infecting trophonts and suggested a protein composition for its anchoring and feeding structures. These findings provide a potential starting point for the development of new prophylactic/therapeutic controls.

Establishment of a gill cell line from yellowfin seabream (Acanthopagrus latus) for studying Amyloodinium ocellatum infection of fish

“…A. ocellatum is among the most pathogenic ectoparasites, causing major economic losses in brackish and marine fish aquaculture (Kuperman & Matey, 1999; Francis‐floyd & Floyd, 2011). There is, however, a scarcity of verified evidence on the pathogenesis of amyloodiniosis, and preventive strategies are limited (Lieke et al., 2020; Massimo et al., 2022). The present investigation established an in vitro platform as a proxy for investigating A.ocellatum ‐host interactions.…”

“…Amyloodiniosis is a ‘quiet’ disease; the host displays no clinical symptoms following infection of a small number of trophonts, but due to the rapid proliferation of A. ocellatum , the fish do not respond to therapy by the time of fish showing signs of disease as it is already too late (Soares et al., 2011). Several studies that investigated the effects of A. ocellatum infection on the host linked fish mortality to inflammation, osmoregulatory disturbances and secondary microbial infections due to severe epithelial damage (Massimo et al., 2022; Moreira et al., 2017, 2018, 2019). Histopathological examination of infected fish gills revealed epithelial cell hyperplasia and hypertrophy of the lamellae, as well as fusion of secondary lamellae, telangiectasia and mucous cell proliferation, culminating in disintegration and necrosis of the lamellar structure of the gill (Noga, 2012; Nozzi et al., 2016).…”

“…Amyloodiniosis is a 'quiet' disease; the host displays no clinical symptoms following infection of a small number of trophonts, but due to the rapid proliferation of A. ocellatum, the fish do not respond to therapy by the time of fish showing signs of disease as it is already too late (Soares et al, 2011). Several studies that investigated the effects of A. ocellatum infection on the host linked fish mortality to inflammation, osmoregulatory disturbances and secondary microbial infections due to severe epithelial damage (Massimo et al, 2022;Moreira et al, 2017Moreira et al, , 2018Moreira et al, , 2019.…”

Monogenean Sparicotyle chrysophrii: The major pathogen of the Mediterranean gilthead seabream aquaculture

“…Cytoplasm of the epithelial cells damaged by the parasite that are consequently detached stained iNOS + , but interestingly, iNOS was also produced abundantly within the parasite's cell. Such antibody recognition of a highly conserved iNOS epitope within the parasite tissues is potentially related to a high metabolic rate of cells during active parasitation, as observed in dinoflagellate A. ocellatum infecting the European seabass gills and oropharyngeal cavity 113 …”