Acquired resistance of black mollies Poecilia latipinna to infection by Ichthyophthirius multifiliis.

Changes in the response of black mollies Poecilia latipinna to infection with Ichthyophthirius multifiliis subsequent to single I. multifiliis infections were examined experimentally. Incomplete resistance to infection was established, the degree of which did not depend on the intensity of the initial infection. Resistance was maintained for longer periods, however, by those fish with higher initial levels of infection. Previous experience of infection by their hosts had a significant, though small, effect on the time for which trophozoites remained on the fish. The influence of these results on the population dynamics of the Ichthyophthirius-fish interaction is examined with the aid of simple mathematical models.