Expression analysis of immune genes in goldfish (Carassius auratus) infected with the monogenean parasite Gyrodactylus kobayashii

Heavy infection with the ectoparasite Gyrodactylus kobayashii commonly leads to high mortality of ornamental goldfish Carassius auratus. To understand the underlying mechanisms of goldfish against infection of gyrodactylids, transcription responses of immune-related genes including IL-1 beta 2, TNF alpha 1, TNF alpha 2, IFN-gamma, TGF beta, MHC II beta, TCR beta 1 and complement factor C3 were studied by real-time quantitative PCR analysis. Significant increases of expression of inflammatory genes such as IL-1 beta 2, TNF alpha 1, TNF alpha 2 and TGF beta were detected at days 7 and 14 post-infection (pi). No significant differences of G. kobayashii load were observed in response to primary infection and re-infection. In addition, the transcript levels of genes involved in adaptive immunity such as MHC II beta and TCR beta 1 remained unchanged. Curiously, fish moderately infected with gyrodactylid showed elevated expression IL-1 beta 2, TNFa alpha 1 and TNF alpha 2. In all the gyrodactylids-infected fish, expression of complement factor C3 was consistently inhibited. The results extend current knowledge to the understanding of gyrodactylid infection in fish and support the previous findings that innate immunity is indispensable for controlling parasite infection.