Modulation of systemic and mucosal immune responses of Catla catla (Hamilton, 1822) experimentally challenged with gill monogeneans

Abstract The present study investigated the modulation of systemic and mucosal immunity of catla ( Catla catla ) experimentally challenged with gill monogeneans. Fingerlings of catla (24.2 ± 1.5 g) without any parasites were randomly distributed into two groups each comprising quadruplicate tanks (10 fish per tank). The fish in the infected group were challenged with gill monogeneans by cohabitation method. The control group fish were not exposed to parasites. Serum and mucus were collected from both control and infected fish and different immunological parameters were measured at weekly interval for four weeks. Monogeneans on the fish gills were also quantified from infected fish at weekly interval. Different systemic immunological parameters viz. myeloperoxidase content, alkaline phosphatase and hemolytic activity of serum showed a significant increase (p