Abstract
Infestation with the salmon louse Lepeophtheirus salmonis (Copepoda, Caligidae) affects Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) production in European aquaculture. Furthermore, high levels of salmon lice in farms significantly increase challenge pressure against wild salmon populations. Currently, available control methods for salmon louse have limitations, and vaccination appears as an attractive, environmentally sound strategy. In this study, we addressed one of the main limitations for vaccine development, the identification of candidate protective antigens. Based on recent advances in tick vaccine research, herein, we targeted the salmon louse midgut function and blood digestion for the identification of candidate target proteins for the control of ectoparasite infestations. The results of this translational approach resulted in the identification and subsequent evaluation of the new candidate protective antigens, putative Toll-like receptor 6 (P30), and potassium chloride, and amino acid transporter (P33). Vaccination with these antigens provided protection in Atlantic salmon by reducing adult female (P33) or chalimus II (P30) sea lice infestations. These results support the development of vaccines for the control of sea lice infestations.
Highlights
Blood feeding arthropod ectoparasites affect a variety of species and can transmit pathogens, causing diseases in humans and animals worldwide [1]
Intestinal tissues from fed and starved adult females were obtained by dissection of live lice fed with blood in intestine that had been recently picked off the Atlantic salmon host, or live lice starved with no visible blood in intestine that had been kept for approximately 3 days off the host in seawater
Our hypothesis is that gut plasma membrane proteins overrepresented in fed lice when compared to unfed lice have potentially relevant biological functions for louse feeding and development and constitute good vaccine candidate protective antigens
Summary
Blood feeding arthropod ectoparasites affect a variety of species and can transmit pathogens, causing diseases in humans and animals worldwide [1]. Mortality in farmed fish occurs only in extreme cases, the salmon louse and other parasitic copepods affect the host. The salmon louse is known to be a vector of fish pathogens [5,6]. Lice go through two pelagic naupliar stages. These stages are not infective and last long enough to transport the larvae over significant distances with sea currents. The infective copepodid stage attaches to salmonid hosts and transforms into the two chalimus stages. These stages are attached to the host through an anchor-like structure and do not jump between hosts
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