Studies on the skin of plaice (Pleuronectes platessa L.)

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Abstract
Eighty‐nine O‐group plaice from a natural population were exposed at 15°C to heavy infection by Cryptocotyle lingua cercariae. Subsequently 45 fish were retained at 15°C, whilst 44 were held at 5°C. Both groups were sampled by killing individual fish at intervals of 6,18,42 h and daily thereafter up to 710 h. Entire fish were fixed immediately in formol saline, transversely sectioned and stained by H & E, PAS, PAS‐diastase, JSDB 109, Picro‐Mallory, Masson's trichrome, Gram‐Weigert and Alcian blue. Histopathological observations showed: (a) epidermal lesions associated with encysted metacercariae in adjacent tissues; (b) myofibrillar necrosis associated with bacteria possibly introduced by the parasite; and (c) a reactive swelling of the intermuscular septa. The progressive development of the parasite cyst and host capsule is described. Development of both was markedly inhibited at the lower temperature, but the inflammatory response at either temperature was slight. This may be evidence of a long‐standing host‐parasite relationship which has evolved to an advanced state of adaptation on the part of the parasite and tolerance on the part of the host.

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