TEMPERATURE MODULATION OF THE RESPONSE OF IG-POSITIVE CELLS TO GOUSSIA-CARPELLI (PROTOZOA, APICOMPLEXA) INFECTIONS IN CARP, CYPRINUS-CARPIOL

The influence of tempenture on the kinetics of immunoglobulin-positive (Ig(+)) leukocytes in cell suspensions prepared from the pronephros a nd the intestine of common carp Cyprinus carpio during the development of Goussia carpelli, a gut-dwelling coccidian parasite, was examined. The development of the parasite was temperature dependent. At 20 C, o ocysts were formed 2-3 wk postexposure (PE), at 15 C for 3-4 wk PE, an d at 12 C for 5-6 wk PE. At all 3 temperatures, changes of relative nu mbers of Ig(+) cells were observed in cell suspensions. During merogon y and gamogony, the proportion of Ig(+) cells increased, peaked during oocyst formation of the parasite, and then remained elevated. Serum c ollected from infected tarp 8-20 days PE contained immunoglobulins bin ding to G. carpelli merozoites. The development of the parasite and th e increase of Ig(+) tells in intestine and pronephros of infected carp were temperature dependent. The peak level of Ig(+) cells appeared no t to be influenced by temperature, These findings indicate that even a t low temperatures local and systemic immune responses are induced in tarp with enteritic parasite infection.