Immunological and health-state parameters in the Patagonian rockfish Sebastes oculatus. Their relation to chemical stressors and seasonal changes

SUEIRO, M. C.; PALACIOS, M. G.

FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY

ACADEMIC PRESS LTD-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD

Año: 2016 vol. 48 p. 71 - 78

1050-4648

Wepresent the results of a fieldstudy that evaluates whether exposure to anthropogenic pollutionimpactsimmunological and health-state parameters of wild marine fish during the breeding and nonbreedingperiods.We assessed aspects of innate immunity (bactericidal capacity, bacterialagglutination,andleukocyte profile) andgeneral health-related parameters (neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio,hematocrit,and condition factor) in the Patagonian rockfish (Sebastes oculatus) sampled from polluted(exposed)and reference (control) sites during winter (i.e., coolest temperatures andactive reproductiveperiod)and in summer (i.e., warmest temperatures and non-reproductive period). Resultsshowed lowerbactericidalcompetence, hematocrit, and condition factor in fish from exposed sites independently ofseason,whereas lymphocytes were higher and monocytes lower at the exposed site onlyduring summer.Moreover,fish sampled during winter displayed lowerbactericidal competence, hematocrit, and conditionfactorthan those sampled in summer independently of site, whereas the oppositepattern wasfoundfor bacterial agglutination. These results could be explained by life-historytheory, which predicts are-allocationof resources between reproduction and other physiological functions (includingimmunity)duringthe most energetically demanding season. The present results show an alterationin immunologicalandhealth-state parameters of wild marine fish exposed to anthropogenic pollution independentlyofseason, which could potentially result in higher susceptibility to disease andin turn populationdecline.