Experimental immunology
Pathogenesis of herpesviruses in lower vertebrates: influence of ictalurid herpesvirus 1 (IcHV-1) on macrophage and lymphocyte activities in fish

Interest of lower vertebrates viruses has recently increased for a variety of reasons despite the fact that none of them infect warm-blooded animals and man. Several DNA viruses infecting fish have been studied for analysis the pathogenesis and for developing the effective methods of prevention and therapy. In this paper, we present the in vitro influence of ictalurid herpesvirus-1 (IcHV-1) on the phagocytic activity of splenic macrophages and proliferative response of pronephric lymphocytes stimulated by mitogens ConA and LPS isolated from wels catfish (Silurus glanis) and tench (Tinca tinca). The results showed that IcHV-1 induced suppressive influence on the phagocytic ability of splenic macrophages in wels catfish, compared to the tench. Also the results showed that IcHV-1 decreased the proliferative response of pronephros lymphocytes stimulated by mitogens ConA in wels catfish, compared to the tench where the immunostimulating effect was observed. The analyses of this study suggested that IcHV-1 inhibited of cell-mediated immunity only in wels catfish.