Apoptosis in Ichthyophthirius multifiliis is associated with expression of the Fas receptor of theronts.

The expression of type I membrane Fas receptors on the surface of Ichthyophthirius multifiliis (Ich) theronts and the possible association between Fas expression and theront apoptosis induced by the immune antibody was examined. Fas receptors were detected on the theront surface using fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated mouse monoclonal antibody against Fas. Fas-positive theronts significantly increased with time during in vitro incubation and with increasing theront concentration. Furthermore, the immune cutaneous antibody induced theront apoptosis; however, Fas ligand did not. A highly significant correlation was noted between theront Fas expression and immune cutaneous antibody-induced theront apoptosis. Numbers of apoptotic theronts increased with increasing number of Fas-positive theronts. The data indicated that theront apoptosis induced by immune cutaneous antibody appears to be positively correlated with the expression of Fas on the surface of Ich theronts.