Acute-phase protein (APPs)
serum levels have been studied in many
human diseases, and their components contribute to host defense during the evolution of
infectious diseases by acting as part of the innate
immune system. Based on the importance of establishing new
experimental models, the present investigation evaluated the modulation of APPs following inflammatory stimulus by the inoculation of
Aeromonas hydrophila in tilapias. Fish were sampled 6 and 24 hours post-
infection. Tilapias presented increase of positive APPs such as
ceruloplasmin,
haptoglobin, alpha-2-macroglobulin and
complement C3, as well as decrease of negative APPs such as
albumin and
transferrin. The
protein response of tilapias during the
course of
bacterial infection showed correlation with the
kinetics of cellular accumulation in the inflamed focus with significant increase of
granulocytes,
thrombocytes,
lymphocytes and
macrophages. However,
granulocytes were the predominant
cells, associated with increment in the
reactive oxygen species (ROS)
production. Showing responses
similar to those observed in
humans, the modulation of APPs and the
kinetics of cellular accumulation in the
exudate demonstrate the feasibility of this alternative
experimental model for advances and studies to understand changes in pathophysiological mechanisms of acute inflammatory reaction due to
bacterial infection.