Defence Mechanism
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YUGDefence Mechanism
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YUGDEFENCE MECHANISM IN
AQUATIC ANIMALS .
Defense mechanism in shell fish
- Shrimp is one of the globally traded
commodities; epidemics is the
neverending crisis in the culture
industry, lot of vaccinations are
available only for finfishes, but when it
comes to shellfish like shrimp, mollusk,
vaccination is impractical because of
the primitive defense system this
animal possesses which includes the
lack of true antibodies, specificity, and
memory. Cell-mediated and humoral
immunity is present, whereas adaptive
immunity is absent in crustaceans.
- From this, one should have a complete
idea about the immunological aspects
of this animal when considering culture.
Innate immunity of shellfish
- Hemocytes play a central role in the
innate immune defense of the animal;
different types of hemocytes present
are classified based on the presence of
cytoplasmic granules inside the cells.
- Hyaline cells: Phagocytosis and
clotting.
- Semi-granular cells: Encapsulation and
nodule formation.
- Granular cells: Prophenol-oxidase
system and cytotoxicity.
Cellular defence mechanisms
Phagocytosis
- The first line of defence present in the
crustacean.
- Engulfing and exclusion of pathogen by
killing through the release of
antimicrobial substances.
Nodule formation
- Isolation and melanization
- Occurs mainly in gills and
hepatopancreas.
Encapsulation
- Mainly for an organism that are too large
which cannot be engulfed through
phagocytosis, example nematode
parasites.
Cytotoxicity
- Direct interaction of hemocytes with
pathogens.
Apoptosis/Programmed cell death
- Infected and damaged cells are
eliminated through this process to
maintain homeostasis.
Humoral defense mechanism
Lectins/Agglutinins
- Immune recognition factor and
microbial phagocytosis through
opsonization.
ProPO activation
- Associated with melanization,
sclerotization and wound healing.
- Counterpart to the vertebrate
complement system.
Anti-microbial compounds
- Hemocyanin which is the copper
containing respiratory pigment of
crustacean having anti-viral property.
- Peneidin isolated from P. monodon
having anti-bacterial properties.
Stress and Immunology
- Stress is the primary disruptor of
homeostasis of all living organisms,
including finfish and shellfishes. There
are many factors called stressors that
bring a change in a normal
physiological response of an animal;
being a cold-blooded animal,
temperature is the biotic master factor
that triggers changes in the animal
behavior.
- Prolonged stress decreases the defense
ability of the animal. Stress can be acute
or chronic, which depends on the
duration of the stressor. Cortisol and
catecholamines are the indicators of
stress. Blood glucose level increasesas
the result of secondary stress response
to compensate for the increased energy
demand. Hence as a result susceptibility
of the animal to diseases increases due
to the impaired immune system.
Conclusion
- A better understanding of the defense
mechanism of aquatic animals will pave
the way for the immunological control of
diseases. Usage of Functional
ingredients and additives in feed,
Nutraceuticals, immunostimulants,
along with the OMICS studies, can offer a
hand in achieving the healthy animal
with better growth and profitable
revenue to the farmer community.
- Proper nursery management, selection
of healthy PL, and biosecurity measures
are the keys for the mitigation of
outbreaks of diseases, and further
studies in the immunological aspects of
aquatic animals can provide a different
dimension in the future.
