[Production of anti-Aeromonas salmonicida agglutinins by the rainbow trout. Influence of temperature, an adjuvant and an immunosuppressive agent].

Adult rainbow trout were immunized intraperitoneally with a chloroform killed Aeromonas salmonicida suspension. Agglutinating antibodies were titrated using a microtiter system. Antibody activity was associated with IgM fraction obtained from Sepharose 4 B gel filtration. The kinetics of antibody formation were established at three temperatures. At 50C detectable antibodies were found at day 50 post immunization. At 10degrees C and 16 degrees C the agglutinin titer rose before day 20. The antibody titer was significantly raised by Freund's complete adjuvant, but cyclophosphamide at a total dose of 500 mg/kg of body weight administered in 10 injections before and after immunization had no effect.