Monoclonal antibody B4 (mAb B4) was previously developed to the myxozoan parasite Tetracapsuloides bryosalmonae Canning, Curry, Feist, Longshaw et Okamura, 1999, the causative agent of proliferative kidney disease of salmonids, Here we describe the reaction of mAb B4 against Myxobolus cerebralis Hofer, 1903, the parasite that causes 'whirling disease' in salmonids. Tissues examined were collected from experimentally infected rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum) and the aquatic oligochaete Tubifex tubifex (O.F. Müller), the two hosts involved in the life cycle of M. cerebralis. Paraffin sections of infected rainbow trout taken at 4 h and 3, 10, 17 and 54 days post-exposure to infective M. cerebralis actinospores were immunohistochemically stained with mAb B4. Longitudinal sections through infected T. tubifex sampled 120 days post-exposure to M. cerebralis myxospores were also examined using this method. The only phase of the M. cerebralis life cycle that expressed the mAb B4 antigen was during sporogenesis in the salmonid host. The immunohistochemical staining demonstrated that the antigen was released into the tissues surrounding the spore and sporogonic stages of the parasite. The localisation of the antigen was diffuse in the fish, suggesting that the possible effect of M. cerebralis infection is extensive through the head tissues and not limited to areas of cartilage destruction as previously thought.

Institute of Aquaculture University of Stirling Stirling Scotland FK9 4LA UK

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