Immune responses of barramundi, Lates calcarifer (Bloch), after administration of an experimental Vibrio harveyi bacterin by intraperitoneal injection, anal intubation and immersion

Barramundi, Lates calcarifer (Bloch), were immunized with an experimental Vibrio harveyi bacterin via intraperitoneal injection, immersion and anal intubation. Both specific and non-specific immune parameters were measured to compare responses to bacterin after delivery by various methods. Elevated antibody activities in sera were found in all treatment groups with barramundi injected intraperitoneally displaying significantly higher antibody activity than the other groups. In addition, there was evidence of memory induction with a heightened antibody response in the intraperitoneally injected group only. Bacteriostatic assays indicated activity against V. harveyi in the sera of all bacterin-treated groups; again this activity was significantly higher in the intraperitoneally injected groups. There was no enhancement noted in head kidney macrophage phagocytic activity or in serum lysozyme levels.