A comparison of disease susceptibility and innate immune response between diploid and triploid Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) siblings following experimental infection with Neoparamoeba perurans, causative agent of amoebic gill disease.

Lynn Chalmers,Alexandra Adams,Herve Migaud,William Roy,John F Taylor,Andrew C Preston

doi:10.1017/s0031182017000622

Lynn Chalmers, Alexandra Adams + Show 4 more

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https://doi.org/10.1017/s0031182017000622

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Journal: Parasitology	Publication Date: May 11, 2017
Citations: 23	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: University of Stirling

Abstract

Few studies have focussed on the health and immunity of triploid Atlantic salmon and therefore much is still unknown about their response to commercially significant pathogens. This is important if triploid stocks are to be considered for full-scale commercial production. This study aimed to investigate and compare the response of triploid and diploid Atlantic salmon to an experimental challenge with Neoparamoeba perurans, causative agent of amoebic gill disease (AGD). This disease is economically significant for the aquaculture industry. The results indicated that ploidy had no significant effect on gross gill score or gill filaments affected, while infection and time had significant effects. Ploidy, infection and time did not affect complement or anti-protease activities. Ploidy had a significant effect on lysozyme activity at 21 days post-infection (while infection and time did not), although activity was within the ranges previously recorded for salmonids. Stock did not significantly affect any of the parameters measured. Based on the study results, it can be suggested that ploidy does not affect the manifestation or severity of AGD pathology or the serum innate immune response. Additionally, the serum immune response of diploid and triploid Atlantic salmon may not be significantly affected by amoebic gill disease.

Highlights

Sexual maturation in fish causes the transfer of energy from normal somatic growth to gonadal development
Recent studies have continued to explore and elucidate the physiology and performance of triploid salmon. These results show that the commonly reported problems of deformity, poor survival and reduced growth in triploids can be addressed through refined husbandry, feeds and management, further supporting the application of triploids in the aquaculture industry (Burke et al 2010; Fjelldal and Hansen, 2010; Leclercq et al 2011; Taylor et al 2011, 2012)
This study compared the response of diploid and triploid Atlantic salmon to infection with Neoparamoeba perurans, the causative agent of amoebic gill disease

Summary

Introduction

Sexual maturation in fish causes the transfer of energy from normal somatic growth to gonadal development. This can have adverse effects on body growth rates and flesh quality, and may increase incidences of disease and mortality (Ojolick et al 1995; Leclercq et al 2011). Sexual maturation is of serious concern for the salmonid aquaculture industry and work continues to derive a solution to these problems. Triploidy is the only commercially available and acceptable means of achieving sterility in fish, and is increasingly being used as a method to control sexual maturation (Oppedal et al 2003; Taylor et al 2011). Triploidy can be readily induced through the application of a hydrostatic or temperature ‘shock’ to newly-fertilized eggs and the process has been optimized for several commercially important species in aquaculture including

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