IMMUNE-RESPONSES OF CHANNEL CATFISH, ICTALURUS-PUNCTATUS (RAFINESQUE), AFTER ORAL OR INTRAPERITONEAL VACCINATION WITH PARTICULATE OR SOLUBLE EDWARDSIELLA-ICTALURI ANTIGEN

Groups of channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus (Rafinesque), were administered Edwardsiella ictaluri twice in the form of whole outer membrane proteins (OMP) or heat-inactivated whole bacteria (IWB) orally or IWB intraperitoneally. Antibody titres and lysozyme concentrations were determined in serum, mucus, gut contents and gut washings taken 7, 14, 21 and 28 days after the second antigen administration. Bacterial killing by anterior kidney neutrophils was determined 7, 14 and 21 days after the second antigen administration. Enhanced killing of tumour targets by nonspecific cytotoxic cells (NCC) was determined 7 days after the second antigen administration. Serum antibody titres of all treatment groups were significantly increased above those of the control group throughout all sampling periods. Fish receiving oral administration of OMP or IWB exhibited maximum serum antibody titres on day 21 or 28. Antibody titres were also detected in mucus, gut washings and gut contents, but did nor reach the level of those in the serum. Bacterial killing was significantly increased only on day 7, and could not be correlated to antibody titre or lysozyme concentration. Bacterial killing was found to be the result of a heat-labile serum factor. NCC activity of fish vaccinated with IWB orally was significantly higher than that of fish vaccinated with OMP orally or controls. Although intraperitoneal vaccination consistently produces higher titre antisera, the results of this study support the idea that oral vaccination can induce antibody systhesis.