Immunological investigations on antarctic fish parasitism by nematodes

摘要

The parasitism of fish by nematodes has been described in both temperate and polar seas (Orecchia & Paggi, 1978). The nematode species most frequently found infesting antarctic fish, are Anisakis simplex (Rudolphi, 1809; Nascetti et al., 1986), Contracaecum osculatum (Rudolphi, 1802; Koie & Fagerholm, 1995) and Pseudoterranova decipiens (Krabbe, 1878; Palm et al., 1994), all belonging to Anisakidae family. The nematode proteins, mostly including the components of the cuticle identified as Collagens, Cuticlins and Surface-associated proteins (Politz & Philipp, 1992), represent intense and persistent natural stimuli eliciting an immune response in fish.