Monitoring of the immune efficiency of Mytilus galloprovincialis in Adriatic sea mussel farms in 2006: regular changes of cytotoxicity during the year

Authors

  • D Malagoli Department of Animal Biology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
  • L Casarini Department of Animal Biology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
  • E Ottaviani Department of Animal Biology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy

Keywords:

Mytilus galloprovincialis, cytotoxicity, immune efficiency

Abstract

By monitoring the course of hemolymph cytolytic activity in Mytilus galloprovincialis during 2006,
we have observed important fluctuations in the percentage of cytotoxic animals over the year. The
changes seem to be correlated with seasonal variations in the temperature, but observations in
mussels kept in aquaria indicated that this parameter is not the main cause of the fluctuations. Data
presented here suggest that normal levels of cytotoxicity can be predicted in a population for a specific period of the year, therefore confirming the value of this parameter in determining the immune efficiency of mussels at a given time.

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Published

2007-02-01

Issue

Vol. 4 No. 1 (2007)

Section

Short Communications