Biomedical subjects

M D Esteve-Gassent

Publications and source records attributed to M D Esteve-Gassent.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

The eel immune system: present knowledge and the need for research.

The European eel, Anguilla anguilla, is one of the most important warm water fish species cultured in southern Europe and the Mediterranean as well as in northern countries including Germany, the Netherlands and Denmark. The Japanese eel, A. japonica, is an important cultured fish in several Asiatic countries including Japan, China and Taiwan. During recent decades, research has been performed to elucidate the immune response of these species against different pathogens (viruses, bacteria or parasites). Nevertheless, there is very limited information in terms of both cellular and humoral immune responses. This review summarizes the present knowledge relating to the eel immune system and includes new data.

Anguilla↗

PubMed2004

Efficacy of a bivalent vaccine against eel diseases caused by Vibrio vulnificus after its administration by four different routes.

Vulnivaccine, a vaccine against vibriosis caused by Vibrio vulnificus serovar E (formerly biotype 2), confers acceptable levels of protection to eels after its administration by prolonged immersion in three doses. Recently, a new pathogenic serovar, named serovar A, has been isolated from vaccinated eels in a Spanish freshwater eel farm. The main objective of this work was to design a bivalent vaccine, and to study its effectiveness against the two pathogenic serovars. With this aim, eels weighing around 20 g were immunised with the bivalent vaccine by oral and anal intubation, intraperitoneal injection (i.p.) and prolonged immersion. The overall results indicated that: (i) the new vaccine delivered by oral and anal intubation induced protection levels higher than 80%, to that achieved after i.p. vaccination; (ii) oral and anal vaccination induced a significant systemic and mucosal immune response; (iii) the protection after vaccination by whichever routes was related to antibody titres in plasma; (iv) mucosal and systemic compartments showed different kinetics of antibody production; (v) evidence for passive transfer of antibodies from plasma to gut mucus were found after i.p. and anal vaccination, and finally, (vi) vaccination did not enhance the production of lysozyme, in plasma or mucus. In conclusion, this new vaccine is effective in protecting eels against vibriosis caused by the two eel-pathogenic serovars of V. vulnificus, the oral delivery system is a promising way which may be used in intensive culture facilities during the whole growth period of eels.

Anguilla↗

PubMed2003

The kinetics of antibody production in mucus and serum of European eel (Anguilla anguilla L.) after vaccination against Vibrio vulnificus: development of a new method for antibody quantification in skin mucus.

Vibrio vulnificus serovar E, a bacterial pathogen for eels cultured in intensive systems, is transmitted through water and enters into new hosts mainly via gills. The main objective of this work was to study the kinetics of antibody production to V. vulnificus in serum and mucus and their relationship with protection after vaccination. To quantify local mucus antibodies, a new "in situ" dot blot immunoassay using image analysis has been developed. This assay was applied to measure antibody production in the skin zone next to the gills. We found that (i) the immune response in mucus was faster (peak at days 3-4) and shorter in duration (titres significantly elevated up to day 5 and 11 for skin zone next to the gills and for general cutaneous mucus, respectively) than in serum (peak at day 7; titres significantly elevated for more than 25 days); (ii) the exposure of vaccinated eels with basal levels of local antibodies to sub-lethal dose of the pathogen stimulated a more lasting secreted antibody production (for more than 14 days); (iii) protection and antibody levels in serum were clearly correlated, and (iv) immunised eels with basal levels of serum antibodies and maximal levels of local antibodies were partially protected.

Anguilla↗

PubMed2001

Field testing of a vaccine against eel diseases caused by Vibrio vulnificus.

The field results of a vaccination programme against Vibrio vulnificus serovar E (biotype 2) in a Spanish eel farm are reported. A total of 9.5 million glass eels were vaccinated from January 1998 to March 2000 by prolonged immersion followed by 2 subsequent reimmunisations after 12 to 14 and 24 to 28 d, respectively. The acquired protection and the immune response against serovar E were estimated over a period of 6 mo after vaccination. A similar vaccination schedule was conducted with elvers in a Danish eel farm. In this case, the acquired protection and the immune response against serovar E and the new eel-pathogenic serovars, recently described in Denmark, were evaluated over a short term. The overall results show that the vaccine against V. vulnificus serovar E induces a satisfactory protective immunity during the main growth period of eels (around 6 mo) with a relative percentage survival of 62 to 86% and protects them against the new eel-pathogenic serovars. Vaccination of eels by immersion seems to be the best strategy to prevent diseases caused by V. vulnificus.

Animals↗