Sea water-adapted Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., were given a 2-h bath in a 2.5 mg L -1 levamisole (as levamisole hydrochloride) solution in fresh-water. Following bathing, the fish were held in full salinity sea water for 2 weeks before being subjected to a number of immunological assays. Heightened activity of the nonspecific defence system was demonstrated by increases in phagocytic index, phagocytic capacity and phagocytic activity, increased levels of the reactive oxygen intermediate, superoxide anion, and an increased lytic activity of both the mucus and the serum. These results indicate that levamisole is effective in augmenting parts of the nonspecific defence system of Atlantic salmon. This is the first record of the use and efficacy of levamisole as an immunomodulator in Atlantic salmon.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Research Division:	Agricultural, Veterinary and Food Sciences
Research Group:	Fisheries sciences
Research Field:	Fish pests and diseases
Objective Division:	Animal Production and Animal Primary Products
Objective Group:	Fisheries - aquaculture
Objective Field:	Fisheries - aquaculture not elsewhere classified
UTAS Author:	Findlay, VL (Ms Vanessa Louise Findlay)
UTAS Author:	Munday, BL (Dr Barry Munday)
ID Code:	19013
Year Published:	2000
Web of Science® Times Cited:	47
Deposited By:	TAFI - Aquaculture
Deposited On:	2000-08-01
Last Modified:	2011-11-07
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