ARS | Publication request: The Fish Immune System, with Particular Emphasis on Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

Submitted to: CD ROM
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: August 7, 2007
Publication Date: October 29, 2008
Citation: Klesius, P.H., Shoemaker, C.A., Evans, J.J. 2008. The Fish Immune System, with Particular Emphasis on Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). CD ROM. Peddie, S. editor. Patterson Peddie Consulting Ltd., Carricfergus, UK. Important Infectious and Parasitic Diseases of Farmed Tilapias. Chapter 15 pg. 128-140.

Interpretive Summary: Knowledge of the immune system is important for a better understanding of disease resistance mechanisms and the development of vaccine strategies. This understanding is also relevant in the control of infectious diseases under intensive tilapia farming. The immune system first recognizes the pathogen (or foreign substance) and then produces responses to eliminate or destroy the pathogen. However, presently there is limited knowledge of the immune system in tilapia. Thus, assumptions are made about the immune system of tilapia from our knowledge of immune system in other fish species (Klesius 1992; Manning 1994; Iwama and Nakanishi 1996; Shoemaker et al 2001; Secombes et al 2005; Pilström 2005; Chistiakov et al 2007) and animals (Turner 1994).

Technical Abstract: Knowledge of the immune system is important for a better understanding of disease resistance mechanisms and the development of vaccine strategies. This understanding is also relevant in the control of infectious diseases under intensive tilapia farming. The immune system first recognizes the pathogen (or foreign substance) and then produces responses to eliminate or destroy the pathogen. However, presently there is limited knowledge of the immune system in tilapia. Thus, assumptions are made about the immune system of tilapia from our knowledge of immune system in other fish species (Klesius 1992; Manning 1994; Iwama and Nakanishi 1996; Shoemaker et al 2001; Secombes et al 2005; Pilström 2005; Chistiakov et al 2007) and animals (Turner 1994).