12. IMMUNOLOGY OF FISH
493
Bay, contain specific antibodies for several microbes pathogenic for
humans, while those from less populated shorelines are free of these
antibodies. [N.B. The antibody response of fish to injected dead bacteria
is not entirely unknown, the authors having overlooked the paper of
Ross and Klontz (1965) and research preceding it.] As the authors
comment, alternative explanations are possible, but their study presents
further evidence that it is better to fish in “still” rather than polluted
waters.
Two incredible ichthyological observations show us that much is
to be learned with respect to fish in the area of transplantation, The
first of these is the well-known occurrence of parasitic males among the
deep-sea family ceratioidea. Here, males (sometimes more than one)
attach themselves orally to females, form continuous tissue connections,
and become degenerated parasitic forms, nourished by female blood and
capable only of reproduction. Hopefully, the growing competence in
marine research will enable these fish to be brought under experimental
control so that we can learn the nature of the tolerance involved.
The second incredible observation is concerned with parasitic copepods of the group Lernaeoceriformes, where adult gravid females
partially bury their head and anterior body in the fish host, the ultimate being achieved by members of the genus Cardiodectes where the
head is buried in the heart of the host. Here, without apparent “damage”
to either party, intimate contact is maintained with the host blood supply
(Ho, 1966; Shino, 1958; Sindermann, 1966, p. 33). Again, tantalizing
questions are raised about the nature of the tolerances involved. (The
author is indebted to Dr. Sneed Collard, University of West Florida,
Pensacola, for calling the above phenomenon to his attention and for
showing him examples of the parasitism involved. )
Ridgway and his associates have made a unique and useful contribution by demonstrating that it is not only possible to show subpopulation
differences in serum proteins between salmons from the eastern and
western North Pacific but also to demonstrate that mature female salmon
have a protein of unique antigenic specificity in their serum (Ridgway
et al., 1962; Olivereau and Ridgway, 1962; Krauel and Ridgway, 1963).
Their extensive work shows that the serological detection of this protein
in salmonids and also English sole, Paroplzys vetulus, and Pacific halibut,
Hippoglyossus stenolopis (Utter and Ridgway, 1967), has potential
usefulness in anticipating the appearance of maturation.
Additional relations of fish to immunology could be further elaborated
such as the effects of cortical hormones reported by Bisset (1949), the
potential usefulness of eggs and antibodies for the identification of
larvae with adult forms (Ridgway, 1962), the further elaboration of
493
Bay, contain specific antibodies for several microbes pathogenic for
humans, while those from less populated shorelines are free of these
antibodies. [N.B. The antibody response of fish to injected dead bacteria
is not entirely unknown, the authors having overlooked the paper of
Ross and Klontz (1965) and research preceding it.] As the authors
comment, alternative explanations are possible, but their study presents
further evidence that it is better to fish in “still” rather than polluted
waters.
Two incredible ichthyological observations show us that much is
to be learned with respect to fish in the area of transplantation, The
first of these is the well-known occurrence of parasitic males among the
deep-sea family ceratioidea. Here, males (sometimes more than one)
attach themselves orally to females, form continuous tissue connections,
and become degenerated parasitic forms, nourished by female blood and
capable only of reproduction. Hopefully, the growing competence in
marine research will enable these fish to be brought under experimental
control so that we can learn the nature of the tolerance involved.
The second incredible observation is concerned with parasitic copepods of the group Lernaeoceriformes, where adult gravid females
partially bury their head and anterior body in the fish host, the ultimate being achieved by members of the genus Cardiodectes where the
head is buried in the heart of the host. Here, without apparent “damage”
to either party, intimate contact is maintained with the host blood supply
(Ho, 1966; Shino, 1958; Sindermann, 1966, p. 33). Again, tantalizing
questions are raised about the nature of the tolerances involved. (The
author is indebted to Dr. Sneed Collard, University of West Florida,
Pensacola, for calling the above phenomenon to his attention and for
showing him examples of the parasitism involved. )
Ridgway and his associates have made a unique and useful contribution by demonstrating that it is not only possible to show subpopulation
differences in serum proteins between salmons from the eastern and
western North Pacific but also to demonstrate that mature female salmon
have a protein of unique antigenic specificity in their serum (Ridgway
et al., 1962; Olivereau and Ridgway, 1962; Krauel and Ridgway, 1963).
Their extensive work shows that the serological detection of this protein
in salmonids and also English sole, Paroplzys vetulus, and Pacific halibut,
Hippoglyossus stenolopis (Utter and Ridgway, 1967), has potential
usefulness in anticipating the appearance of maturation.
Additional relations of fish to immunology could be further elaborated
such as the effects of cortical hormones reported by Bisset (1949), the
potential usefulness of eggs and antibodies for the identification of
larvae with adult forms (Ridgway, 1962), the further elaboration of