The purpose of the study was to investigate an effect of water temperature on a non-specific immune response and mortality of tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, following a bacterial infection. Seventy five tilapia acclimated to 25℃ were then transferred at 16 and 36℃, and examined for non-specific immune responses over 12-96 h. Respiratory burst activity was reduced significantly in the group of fish cultured at 16 and 36℃ over 24-96 h, whereas phagocytic activity decreased significantly in the group of fish reared at a low temperature (16℃) over 12 and 24 h and high temperatures (36℃) over 12-96 h. Lysozyme activity diminished significantly in the group of fish transferred to 16℃ over 12-48 h, but increased significantly in the group of fish at 36℃ over 48 and 96 h. Alternative complement pathway (ACH50) decreased significantly when transferred to 16℃ after 12 h, but increased significantly when transferred to 36℃ after 24 h. In a challenging test, 30 tilapia reared at 25℃ were injected intraperitoneally with Streptococcus iniae at a dose of 2x107 cfu/fish, and then reared onward at water temperatures of 15, 25 (control), and 36℃. Over 12-96 h, the cumulative mortality of S. iniae-injected fish held in 16 and 36℃ was significantly higher than that of injected-fish held in 25℃ In conclusion, transfer of tilapia from 25℃ to low temperature (16℃) after 12 h, and transfer of fish from 25℃ to high temperature (35℃) reduced their immune capability. Furthermore, tilapia under temperature stress at 16 and 36℃ from 25℃ decreased its resistance against S. iniae

• 최상훈(군산대학교 수산생명의학과) | Sanghoon Choi Corresponding author