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Histological changes in intestine of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) following in vitro exposure to pathogenic and probiotic bacterial strains

Cell and Tissue Research volume 328, pages 109–116 (2007)Cite this article

Abstract

Furunculosis and vibriosis are diseases that cause severe economic losses in the fish-farming industry. The foregut of the Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) was exposed in vitro to two fish pathogens, Aeromonas salmonicida (causative agent of furunculosis) and Vibrio anguillarum (causative agent of vibriosis), and to one probiotic strain, Carnobacterium divergens, at 6 × 104 or 6 × 106 viable bacteria per milliliter. Histological changes following bacterial exposure were assessed by light and electron microscopy. Control samples (foregut exposed to Ringer’s solution only) and samples exposed only to C. divergens had a similar appearance to intact intestinal mucosal epithelium, with no signs of damage. However, exposure of the foregut to the pathogenic bacteria resulted in damaged epithelial cells, cell debris in the lumen, and disorganization of the microvilli. Co-incubation of the foregut with a pathogen and C. divergens did not reverse the damaging effects caused by the pathogen, although these were alleviated when probiotic bacteria were used. Based on these results, we suggest that the probiotic bacterium, C. divergens, is able to prevent, to some extent, pathogen-induced damage in the Atlantic salmon foregut.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful for the excellent technical assistance of Hari Rudra and Rolf Hetlelid Olsen at the Institute of Marine Research, Bergen. Sample processing and examination were undertaken at the Molecular Image Center, Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Bergen.

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Author notes

  1. E. Ringø

    Present address: Department of Marine Biotechnology, Norwegian College of Fishery Science, University of Tromsø, Tromsø, Norway

Affiliations

  1. Section of Arctic Veterinary Medicine, Department of Food Safety and Infection Biology, Norwegian School of Veterinary Science, 9292, Tromsø, Norway

    E. Ringø

  2. Institute of Marine Research, Matre Aquaculture Research Station, Matredal, Norway

    E. Ringø & R. E. Olsen

  3. Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway

    I. Salinas, A. Nyhaug & R. Myklebust

  4. Fish Innate Immune System, Department of Cell Biology, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain

    I. Salinas

  5. School of Biomedical Sciences, Queen’s Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK

    T. M. Mayhew

Authors
  1. E. Ringø
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  2. I. Salinas
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  3. R. E. Olsen
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  4. A. Nyhaug
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  5. R. Myklebust
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  6. T. M. Mayhew
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to E. Ringø.

Additional information

I. Salinas thanks Fundacion Seneca for a PhD studentship.

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Ringø, E., Salinas, I., Olsen, R.E. et al. Histological changes in intestine of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) following in vitro exposure to pathogenic and probiotic bacterial strains. Cell Tissue Res 328, 109–116 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00441-006-0323-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00441-006-0323-0

Keywords

  • Fish digestive tract
  • Epithelial damage
  • Aeromonas salmonicida
  • Vibrio anguillarum
  • Carnobacterium divergens
  • Salmo salar (Teleostei)