Effects of Temperature on Production and Specificity of Antibodies in Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

The effect of temperature on production and affinity of antibodies against antigens from the parasitic ciliate Ichthyophthirius multifiliis were studied in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Fish were immunized with I. multifiliis antigens and reared at three different temperatures, 5, 12, and 20 C for 56 d. The production of specific antibodies was examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The results showed that temperature has a pronounced effect on the assay result of the ELISA technique. Plasma samples analyzed at 5 C showed that the specific antibody response of fish reared at 5 C was similar to fish reared at 12 and 20 C. However, when samples were assayed at 12 and 20 C, the measured antibody response tended to be higher for the samples from trout reared at 12 and 20 C. Additionally, it was found that rainbow trout reared at 5 C showed a delayed but not hampered antibody response compared to fish reared at 12 and 20 C, indicating a correlation between low temperature and delayed antibody production.