A study on effects of levamisole on the immune system of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss, Walbaum)

In this study, effects of levamisole on specific and non-specific immune mechanisms of rainbow trout (O. mykiss) were examined. The mean weight of 60 fish used in this study was 99.35 - 215.95 g. After. injecting 5mg kg"! levamisole intraperitonally, blood was taken from hearth of fish and haematocrit, leucocrit, glass-adherent NBT positive cell activation, leucocyte level, NBT activities, potential killing activities of neutrophyl and monocytes, fagocytic activity, myeloperoxidase production, immunoglobulin, lysozyme and ceruloplasmin activity were determined. No differences were found at levels of haematocrit, leukocrit and immunuglobulin between control and experimental groups (p>0.05). However, there was considerable increase in other immune parameters and significant differences were detected between control and experimental groups (p<0.05). Key Words: Immunomodulation, Levamisole, Rainbow trout