Virus diseases of the salmonidae in the western United States. III. Immunopathological aspects

The immune response among fish, from a phylogenetic standpoint, presents a progressive pattern of increasing development. The cyclostomes have been shown to have only feeble immunologic responsiveness. One of their number, the hagfish, appeared to be totally lacking in the ability to actively acquire antibodies.

Among the elasmobranchs, the sharks have received the most study immunologically. This group demonstrated a variable response to antigenic stimulation

Of the teleosts, the salmonids and the cyprinids have been the more frequent recipients of experimentally introduced antigens. These fishes, as well as other species of teleosts, are quite active and quite consistent in their response to various antigens.