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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Auburn, Alabama » Aquatic Animal Health Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #301098
Title: Hybrid, channel catfish show similar immune responses to Ich parasite

Author
item Xu, Dehai
item Klesius, Phillip

Submitted to: Global Aquaculture Advocate
Publication Type: Popular Publication
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/16/2013
Publication Date: 1/2/2014
Citation: Xu, D., Klesius, P.H. 2014. Hybrid, channel catfish show similar immune responses to Ich parasite. Global Aquaculture Advocate. January/February:46-48.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The hybrid catfish (female channel catfish × male blue catfish) has been reported to have some commercially desirable characteristics, such as faster growth, better feed conversion, low oxygen tolerance, higher fillet yields, and resistance to some diseases. Previous studies showed that channel catfish and hybrid catfish were all susceptible to infestation by Ichthyophthirius multifiliis (Ich), a protozoan parasite which causes a serious parasitic disease in freshwater fish and leads to heavy economic losses in aquaculture. There is very limited information available on the immune protection of hybrid catfish against Ich. In this study, the immune responses and host protection were evaluated between hybrid catfish and channel catfish against Ich. Both species were immunized with live Ich theronts by immersion or by IP injection and cohabited in the same tanks. After being challenged with Ich theronts, the immunized hybrid catfish developed a high antibody level, had no or a light parasite infection and showed high fish survival-results similar to those for the channel catfish.