Physiological responses and depression of humoral components of the immune system in gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) following daily acute stress

Abstract

Changes in the immune system indicators serum hemagglutinating activity, complement levels, antibody titer, and lymphocyte number and in the plasma levels of cortisol and glucose in the gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) indicated that stress was induced when fish were chased daily for 8 min with a hand-held net for 16 days. Plasma levels of cortisol and glucose were elevated after 1 day and cortisol remained above prestress levels throughout the experiment. The immune system was altered as indicated by lymphocytopenia and decreases in hemolytic activity, agglutination capacity, and antibody titer. As these results show, for the first time, that the complement system is depressed after stress, a routine complement analysis is suggested as an additional technique for assessing the health status of fish.RCsumC : La rCponse de stress a Ct C m&surCe sur la dorade (Sparus aurata) aprks 16 jolmrs de poursuite rkgulikre (8 minijour). On a analysi le cortisol et la glucose plasmatiques et des rdponses immunologiques, comme 19activite hemagglutinante du sCrum, l'action himolysante du complkment, la titration des anticorps et le nombre de lymphocytes circulants. Les rCsultats montrent une augmentation du cortisol et de la glucose aprks Ie premier jour, laquelle continue pour le cortisol jusqu'i la fin de l'expdriment, ou on trouve l mne stabilisation. Toutes les r6powses immunologiques sont affeetCes. On trouve lymphocytopenie et une baisse de 19activitC hCmolitiqlme, de la capacite d'agglutination et de la titration des anticorps. Puisque ces aCsultats iwdiquent l'inhibition du systkme du complCment par le stress, on suggkre l'addition des analyses du compl6rnent B I'ensemble des autres indicateurs sanitaires des poissows.

Haematological and Immunological Responses in Juvenile Sea Bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.) After Short-Term Acute Stress

“…The increase recorded 4 hours after intraperitoneal injection is in contrast with previous research showing the progressive decrease in haemagglutination activity in gilthead seabream juveniles exposed to repeated acute stress consisting in chasing with a net for 5 minutes over 14 days [7,71]. In the same species, chronic stress induced by crowding caused immunodepression, as suggested by decreases in haemagglutination titre observed after 9 days [72].…”

“…In addition, some components of innate immune system (e.g. lysozyme, haemolytic and haemagglutinating activity) are used as indicators of immunocompetence in fish exposed to stress [7][8][9][10].…”

Effect of berberine hydrochloride on grass carp Ctenopharyngodon idella serum bactericidal activity against Edwardsiella ictaluri

“…Crowding stress, transportation and other acute stress can dramatically harm complement activity in fish [7,8]. It is desirable to search for substances that have the ability to stimulate Fig.…”

The stress response of the gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata L.) to air exposure and confinement

“…For the gilthead sea bream, it has been demonstrated that cortisol has mineralocorticoid actions that facilitate adaptation to changes in ambient salinity (Mancera et al 1994, Altimiras et al 1994. In the same fish, crowding and repeated daily acute stress result in immunosuppression (Sunyer et al 1995, Tort et al 1996. In the red gurnard (Chelidonichthys kumu), capture and confinement negatively affect reproduction (Clearwater & Pankhurst 1997).…”