Abstract
Chemical signals are produced by aquatic organisms following predatory attacks or perturbations such as parasitic infection. Ectoparasites feeding on fish hosts are likely to cause release of similar alarm cues into the environment due to the stress, wounding, and immune response stimulated upon infection. Alarm cues are often released in the form of proteins, antimicrobial peptides, and immunoglobulins that provide important insights into bodily function and infection status. Here we outline a noninvasive method to identify potential chemical cues associated with infection in fish by extracting, purifying, and characterizing proteins from water samples from cultured fish. Gel free proteomic methods were deemed the most suitable for protein detection in saline water samples. It was confirmed that teleost proteins can be characterized from water and that variation in protein profiles could be detected between infected and uninfected individuals and fish and parasite only water samples. Our novel assay provides a noninvasive method for assessing the health condition of both wild and farmed aquatic organisms. Similar to environmental DNA monitoring methods, these proteomic techniques could provide an important tool in applied ecology and aquatic biology.
Highlights
Chemical cues released into the environment following natural perturbations, predator attacks, or social threats allow animals to assess potential dangers and may lead to increased survival chances.[1]
Innate immune responses activated upon pathogen infection can cause variation in body odor; this has been documented in humans, for example, whereby endotoxin-exposed individuals smelled significantly more unpleasant than their control counterparts, indicating a social cue of sickness.[6]
Changes in body odor have been seen in infected mice, where females prefer the urinary odors of uninfected male individuals.[7]
Summary
Chemical cues released into the environment following natural perturbations, predator attacks, or social threats allow animals to assess potential dangers and may lead to increased survival chances.[1]. Kryptolebias marmoratus (the mangrove killifish) is a small, naturally inbred, cyprinid fish species that is maintained under laboratory conditions Isogeneity in this species via constant self-ing makes it a useful model organism for the study of physiological plasticity and response to environmental stressors.[40,41] Argulus foliaceus, is a generalist fish parasite found throughout Europe that is known to cause epizootics and problems in both brackish and freshwater fish farms.[42−45] Here we assessed the use of a novel noninvasive proteomic approach to identify fish infection by comparing proteins released into water by infected and uninfected K. marmoratus. We used this study system to develop a proteomic method of potential application to assess health status and stress response in fish populations
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call