February 15-18, 2009 Washington State Convention Center Seattle ...

EFFECT OF SALINTY, AMMONIA AND FORMALINE ON IMMUNE, METABOLIC AND
HISTOPATHOLOGY MARKERS IN THE SHRIMP Litopennaeus schmitti
Raico Ernesto Laria Lamela, Yanis Cruz, Raquel Silveira, Mercedes Martinez and Norma Gonzalez
Several effectors of the immune response in invertebrates have been
considered as potential health or disease markers in crustaceans. The
relative simplicity of the invertebrate’s immune system makes it a
potential means of monitoring the effects of environmental contaminants
and the complex interactions that ultimately affect host resistance. Cellular
defences in crustaceans rely on haemocytes, with several functions such
as coagulation, phagocytosis, and encapsulation and wound healing.
The proPO activating system plays an important role in the recognition
and defence against invading foreign organisms and it is the enzyme
responsible for initiating the biosynthesis of melanin. Peroxidase activity
is associated with an adhesion molecule called peroxinectin which acts as
an opsonin, a degranulation and encapsulation-promoting factor as well
as having peroxidase and cell adhesion activity. It may function as an
efficient microbicidal attack system against invader microorganisms.
Salinity is one of the main environmental factors that wield a selective
pressure on aquatic organism. Formalin is used in shrimp industry as
an external parasiticide to control protozoan parasites. Ammonia is the
major end product of protein catabolism excreted by fish, crustaceans,
and molluscs and the accumulation of ammonia can cause mortality of
organisms reared in closed culture systems
The main objectives of this work were to determine phenoloxidase and
peroxidase activity, total haemocytes count and histopathology changes
and the behaviour of metabolic indicators in the haemolymph of the
white shrimp Litopennaeus Schmitti exposed to low salinity, formalin and
different levels of ammonia.
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