Cellular and Humoral (non-specific) Immunity of Carp Stocking Material (cyprinus Carpio L.) before and after Wintering

ATANASOVA, R. and L. HADJINIKOLOVA, 2008. Cellular and humoral (non-specific) immunity of carp stocking material (Cyprinus carpio L.) before and after wintering. Bulg. J. Agric. Sci.,14: 251-255 A biochemical characteristic of carp fish stocking material (Cyprinus carpio L.) has been done according to the indices bactericide activity of blood serum (BA); lysozyme activity of blood serum (LA), phagocytic activity (PhA) and phagocytic index (PhI); total proteins (TP) and γ-globulins of blood serum before and after wintering. The studies have been carried out by using two-summer-old (autumn) and two-years-old (spring) clinically healthy carp having a weight of 40 g to 50 g. The relative stability of bactericide activity of blood serum (BA) as an index characterizing carp resistibility during the period of hibernation has been proved. Authentically higher values of lysozyme activity of the one-summer-old carp (Ko) and of phagocytic activity of the one-year-old carp (K1) have been established. Authentic differences concerning the phagocytic index have not been proved (P<0.05). Total protein level seasonal dynamics expressed in higher autumn and lower spring values has been established. The differences between ã-globulin values of the one-summer and one-year-old carp have been unauthentic (P<0.05). Key word: carp, blood serum, bactericide activity, lysozyme activity, phagocytic activity, phagocytic index, total proteins, γ-globulins E-mail: [email protected] Introduction The bactericide, lysozyme and phagocytic activity are component parts of indices, determining the natural immunity of the organism, with an outstanding bacteristatic and bactericide activity, because of which they can be used as markers for characterizing the immune status of the animals, fish and their adaptive possibilities, included (Parchomenko and Timochina, 1987; Chemshirova et al., 1999). The serum proteins of blood play not an small role for producing the protective reactions of fish organism. The fish protein spectrum possesses a high variability and reflects the functional status of their organism (Afanasjev et al., 2001). According to Benediktov and Oljhovikova (1986) the determination of total protein level and of its fractions in blood serum has a great diagnostic and prognostic significance. The fish humoral immune system in contrast to that of the other animals is rather variable and depends on the external conditions and fish species (Lukjanenko, 1971). The humoral factors of natural resistibility ensure the bactericide function of blood serum and tissue fluids of fish. They do not function in isolation, but are in interconnection with one another (Vikhman, 1996).