Spleen and kidney of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) show histochemical changes early in the course of experimentally induced infectious salmon anaemia (ISA)

Infectious salmon anaemia (ISA) is a disease of farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) in Norway that affects both erythrocytic and leucocytic cells. Both cell types are possible target cells for the aetiological ISA agent, which is probably a virus. In the present study the distribution and phenotype of leucocyte populations in the spleen and head kidney of Atlantic salmon that were developing ISA have been examined. tissues were collected from fish at various times after inoculation with ISA-infective material. Immune and enzyme histochemical techniques were used to characterise the response of leucocyte populations. Acid phosphatase positive macrophages predominantly in the red pulp of the spleen appeared to have engulfed erythrocytes at day 4 after infection. Evidence of degradation products of phagocytosed erythrocytes was present in macrophages in red pulp of the spleen at day 7 after infection, in addition to the usual site of erythrophagocytosis in melanomacrophage accumulations. Signs of erythrophagocytosis were not found in the head or body portions of the kidney. The activation of macrophages in the spleen at day 7 was suggested by decreased reactivity for the enzyme 5′ nucleotidase. From day 7, clusters of immunoglobulin positive (Ig + ) cells were present in the head kidney, while from day 11, the ellipsoids of the spleen showed reactivity for Ig and complement factor C3. These observations are discussed in relation to early immunoglobulin production and possible immune complex trapping. The present results suggest that the leucocyte populations in Atlantic salmon respond to ISA infection through macrophage activation and the initiation of an immune response.