Importance of nitric oxide synthase in the anchoring structures of Neobenedenia girellae – an important fish parasite

Specimens of Neobenedenia girellae, recognized as one of the most important pathogen of fish, were collected in order to find evidence of the nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and its possible role in haptor control. Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Western Blotting technique were used on a homogenate of parasites; immunohistochemistry technique was applied on whole mount parasites, which were thereby investigated with confocal laser scanning microscope. Images obtained by immunohistochemistry show a strong evidence of the enzyme presence in the posterior body of N. girellae specimens, colocalizing with α-tubulin; focusing on the distribution one could speculate that the constitutive form of NOS is expressed. Samples investigated with Western Blotting show a moderate evidence of NOS presence too. The investigation of the role of NOS in regulating the most important attaching structures of N. girellae is important not only from the standpoint of biochemical knowledge but also in terms of development of new pharmacological strategies for the eradication of these parasites from aquacultures. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd.