Protection of channel catfish, <i>Ictalurus punctatus</i> Rafmesque, against <i>Ichthyophthirius multifiliis</i> Fouquet by immunization

Abstract

Channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus Rafmesque, were immunized with ciliary and whole cell preparations of Ichthyophthirius multifiliis and subsequently challenged with I. multi‐filiis . Similar Telrahymena pyriformis preparations were used to determine if this heterologous immunization would elicit a protective immune response against I. mullifiliis infestation. Results indicate that T. pyriformis ciliary antigens provided the greatest degree of protection.