Abstract
Among all known parasitic ciliates, Ichthyophthirius multifiliis and Cryptocaryon irritans are probably the two best studied “model parasites,” which cause the white spot diseases in freshwater and marine fish, respectively. These two parasites are not phylogenetically closely related, but share very similar life cycle and pathological manifestations. Both parasites invade and feed in the epithelial layer of the skin and gill, and trigger both innate and adaptive immune responses in fish hosts, locally and systemically. The parasite-host interactions not only help add to our knowledge of fish immunity, but also shed light on research regarding other less well-studied ciliate parasites. Future research directions are also discussed in this chapter.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.