In this study, activation of phagocytic cells was examined in rainbow trout ( Oncorhynchus mykiss W.) exposed to 1, 5 and 10 μg ml ^-1 concentrations of levamisole solution. For this purpose, blood samples were taken from fish on days 1, 7 and 14 of exposure. Potential killing activity was determined by measuring oxidative radical production and phagocytic activity of neutrophils and superoxide anion production of phagocytic cells against Y. ruckeri . The activity of phagocytic cells in fish exposed to each of three concentrations was found higher than that in controls and the differences were statistically significant ( p < 0.05, p < 0.01). Although no activation in oxidative radical production, phagocytes and bactericidal killing activity in fish exposed to 5 and 10 μg ml ^-1 concentration of levamisole solution was determined on day 7, it was observed that all indicators increased on day 14 of exposure. The present results suggest that the application of levamisole in fish farms could increase non-specific immunity and resistance to infection of fish and offer economics benefits.

The aim of this study was to evaluate antioxidant responses of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) exposed to different concentrations of copper sulphate (CuSO4). Fish were exposed to 0 (Group I-control), 5 (Group II), 15 (Group III) and 30 mu g/L (Group IV) concentrations of CuSO4 for 14 days. Liver and gills samples were collected at the end of the experiment, and analysed for their oxidant-antioxidant status, including the malondialdehyde (MDA) level, the catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities as well as the reduced glutathione (GSH) concentration. Results obtained showed that the levels of MDA increased in tissues of fish. Compared to control, GSH level and GSH-Px and CAT activities were significantly reduced in the fish that were exposed to different concentrations of CuSO4. The result demonstrated that CuSO4 has an oxidative-stress-inducing potential in fish.

In this study, effects of Yersinia ruckeri antigens on the immune mechanisms of rainbow trout ( Oncorhynchus mykiss ) were examined. The weight of the 120 fish used in this study was 20–30 g. After injecting 1 mg of formalin-inactivated whole cells (FKC) and O-antigen (Ag-O) intraperitoneally, blood was taken from the caudal vein of anaesthetized fish and metabolic activity of leukocytes (Nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) activities), phagocytic activity (PA), phagocytic index (PI), serum protein and serum total immunoglobulin (TIg) levels were determined on day 30 after the first immunization. The same procedure was conducted in the control group. In all the experimental groups, considerable increases in the immune indicators were found and significant differences detected between the control and experimental groups ( p < 0.05). Metabolic activity of leukocytes decreased significantly ( p < 0.05) during the following treatment with antigens compared to the control fish group.