A comparative study of seafish erythrocytes and agglutinins from seaweeds

Abstract 1. 1. To date, only a few authors have assayed the agglutinic activity of marine algae against fish erythrocytes, and in these cases, mainly against freshwater fish. 2. 2. For the first time, the hemagglutinic activity of 70 seaweeds (29 brown, 37 red and four green algae) against erythrocytes of 16 seaflsh species is reported. 3. 3. The presence of agglutinins was demonstrated in 100% of algae assayed, against at least one of the different types of erythrocytes tested. 4. 4. The results obtained confirm the presence of receptors for algae agglutinins on the surface of the erythrocytes of the fish studied. 5. 5. This could be useful in establishing the origins of fish populations, as these serological differences could distinguish between populations of cultivated and wild fish.