LOCALIZED CELLULAR-RESPONSES TO ICHTHYOPHTHIRIUS-MULTIFILIIS - PROTECTION OR PATHOGENESIS

The ciliate Ichthyophthirius multifiliis is on economically important parasite in aqua-culture os well os in the ornamental fish trade. The parasite has been well studied and details of life cycle, host respons e and pathogenesis have been characterized Parasite development within host epithelial tissues initiates localized leukocytic infiltrations, although the relationship between these responses and host resistance is uncertain, and whether or not leukocyte responses play a role in p rotective immunity is unclear Here Frank Cross outlines the character of localized cellular responses during I, multifiliis infection and di scusses the contribution of such responses to protective immunity and pathogenesis.