Immune responses of great sturgeon Huso huso to Aeromonas hydrophila bacterin

The immunocompetent cell population, lysozyme activity, chemiluminescence response and antibody titre were assessed in great sturgeon Huso huso after intraperitoneal immunization with formalin-inactivated whole cells of Aeromonas hydrophila. Generally an increase was seen in indices of immunocomptent cell counts of immunized fish compared to the control group. The neutrophil count was higher in immunized fish from day 29. Lysozyme activity in liver and spleen samples of immunized fish was initially significantly higher than unimmunized fish, but was not different in serum and kidney. Antibody titre and respiratory burst in immunized fish were mainly significantly higher than unimmunized fish. (C) 2007 The Authors.