Increased susceptibility of Atlantic salmon Salmo salar to infections with Gyrodactylus derjavini induced by dexamethasone bath treatment

Dexamethasone, a known immunosuppressant, was administered by bath or injection to Atlantic salmon Salmo salar (Conon stock) to study if this treatment could affect the susceptibility of fish to infections with a Danish strain of Gyrodactylus derjavini (Monogenea). Three groups of S. salar (Conon stock) were immersion treated either with 10, 60 or 240 microg dexamethasone l-1 water, respectively. In addition, one group (positive control) was treated intraperitoneally with 200 microg dexamethasone per fish and one negative control group was kept untreated. A single G. derjavini parasite was placed on the anal fin of each fish and the infection was subsequently monitored weekly for 6 weeks. An increase in parasite populations on the salmon was positively correlated with the amount of immunosuppressant used. Infection levels in the group immersion treated with dexamethasone (240 microg l-1 water) and in the i.p. treated positive control group were significantly higher compared to the untreated control group.