The effect of dose, route, number of injections and the use of adjuvant on the clearance of and immune response to, haemocyanin following injection into brown trout (Salmo trutta)

The primary and secondary immune responses were investigated in trout injected with haemocyanin (HCN) intramuscularly (IM) or intraperitoneally (IP), with or without adjuvant. HCN was detected in the blood 30 min after injection and clearance times varied after one injection from 8 to 56 days. Fish given two and three injections cleared the antigen faster. Precipitins against HCN were first detected 21 to 30 days after injection and were still present on Day 56. However, antibodies detectable by indirect haemagglutination (IHA) and complement fixation (CFA) were initially demonstrated 7 to 21 days after a single injection and highest titres were reached between 33 and 56 days according to the experimental protocol. In fish given two injections, maximum titres were reached between Days 42 and 56 (IM), and Days 50 and 56 (IP). With three injections, maximum CFA and IHA values occurred on Days 62 and 66 respectively in the case of IP, and on Days 103 and 106 respectively with IM. Overall, higher titres were found with IHA than by CFA.