Antibodies against Vibrio salmonicida lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and whole bacteria in sera from Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) vaccinated during the smolting and early post-smolt period

The antibody response to Vibrio salmonicida LPS was studied by ELISA and immunoblot after vaccination of salmon with an aqueous vaccine containing the bacterium. The vaccination of the groups took place from February to July. Antibodies to LPS were present in all sera. Sera from unvaccinated fish and samples collected a short time after vaccination contained low antibody levels. The antibody levels in vaccinated groups increased with time after vaccination except for fish vaccinated during the smolting period. For these fish groups decreasing levels were found in the autumn. Vaccination provided high levels of antibodies to LPS at least 6 months later, even with low water temperatures at primary and secondary vaccination. Fish vaccinated during smolting at higher water temperatures reached high antibody levels a short time after vaccination, but for these groups a decrease took place resulting in the lowest antibody levels of the vaccinated groups in September. Immunoblots showed that antibody reacted with low molecular weight components corresponding to the O-side chain. Immunoblots using whole bacteria as antigen showed a few immunoreactive bands and individual reaction patterns with respect to location of the bands and immunodominance.