A Histopathological Review of Immune Response in Largemouth Bass to Parasitic Infections of Soft Tissues

<p>The immune response can serve as a key indicator of a fish’s overall health and the effect stressors have on the health of the fish. Anthropogenic factors can stress a fish’s immune system and inhibit immune responses. This study investigated the response of eosinophilic cells and macrophage aggregates to parasites in the livers, spleens, and gonads of Largemouth Bass, <em>Micropterus salmoides</em>. Largemouth Bass were sampled from three bodies of water in the Chattahoochee Valley of varying levels of urbanization. Histopathology of the aforementioned organs was conducted to observe both the parasite density and immune response. Eosinophilic cells were shown to be the most robust indicator of immune response based on parasite density. Bass from more urbanized areas were shown to have significantly lower immune response and significantly higher parasite density. The ovaries had the strongest immune response of all organs observed, and the livers showed the weakest response.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Biology

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Biology

Year dc:date.available

2020

Author dc:creator

• Stephenson, James D

Contributors dc:contributor

• Dr. Harlan Hendricks
• Elizabeth Klar
• Dr. Michael Newbrey

• Histopathology
• Parasites
• Nematodes
• Flukes
• Tapeworms
• Immune Response
• Urbanization
• Largemouth Bass
• Aquaculture and Fisheries
• Biology

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

https://csuepress.columbusstate.edu/theses_dissertations/406

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:csuepress.columbusstate.edu:theses_dissertations-1408