DAO 83:17-22 (2009)  -  DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/dao01999

ABSTRACT: The prevalence of serum antibodies against Saprolegnia parasitica in wild and farmed brown trout Salmo trutta from the province of León (NW Spain) was studied by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Blood samples from healthy and Saprolegnia-infected brown trout were collected over 2 yr with a seasonal periodicity (January, April, July and October) from a hatchery and river with frequent presence of saprolegniosis (River Porma) and from a river in which the disease was rarely observed (River Omaña). The individual prevalence was 30.1%, but statistically significant differences were observed between the prevalence in trout from the hatchery (43.0%), from River Porma (31.8%) and from River Omaña (6.4%) and also between the prevalence observed in October (42.9%) and the values obtained in January (24.8%), April (22.7%) and July (27.5%). There was no difference between the seroprevalence in females (34.8%) and males (38.2%), but a positive correlation between raised serum antibody levels and larger (older) fish was found. The low prevalence of antibodies observed in Saprolegnia-infected trout (18.0%) suggests possible immune suppression and the lack of an effective specific immune response in fish with saprolegniosis.

KEY WORDS: Saprolegnia parasitica · Brown trout · Serum antibodies · Prevalence · ELISA