Rzgar Jaafar

Rzgar Jaafar

Attendant FU

The research association with Professor Kurt Buchmann during my M.Sc. and Ph.D. study at the Department of Animal Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen/Denmark has helped me in building a strong intimate relationship to the field of fish biology and diagnosis and control of fish diseases. I have contributed to teaching of fish parasitology, fish bacteriology, fish immunology, and fish vaccinology at Laboratory of Aquatic Pathobiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, been mentor for several Bachelor and M.Sc. students, and managing of experimental fish keeping facilities.  

My scientific career (2010-2019) had a focus on a range of different projects including of immune reactions in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) fish against parasites from protozoans to metazoans. I have been involved in a series of field and experimental studies investigating the host reactions in rainbow trout infected with flagellates (Ichthyobodo necator), ciliates (Ichthyophthirius multifiliis), monogeneans (Gyrodactylus salaris) and nematodes (Anisakis simplex). I have conducted a range of different projects including vaccination of rainbow trout fish and conducting an experimental feeding study elucidating the effects of dietary supplementation of pharmaceutical products, feed additives, immunostimulants and vaccines on modulation of the fish immune system and the susceptibility of fish to various parasitic and bacterial infections.

In my M.Sc. thesis work, I investigated the effects of dietary β-1,3-glucan on innate immune parameters of juvenile rainbow trout and on susceptibility to the skin-parasitic ciliate Ichthyophthirius multifiliis (Ich), the study published under the title: Dose Dependent Effects of Dietary Immunostimulants on Rainbow Trout Immune Parameters and Susceptibility to the Parasite Ichthyophthirius Multifiliis. In another study, we have attempted to investigate the epidermal response of rainbow trout to the parasitic flagellate Ichthyobodo necator. The study published under the title: Epidermal response of rainbow trout to Ichthyobodo necator: immunohistochemical and gene expression studies indicate a Th1-/Th2-like switch. Recently, we have conducted a transcriptomic analysis of immunity in rainbow trout gills infected by ciliate parasite Ichthyophthirius multifiliis.

In my Ph.D. a series of in vivo experiments conducted to investigate the importance of vaccine administration with special focus on injection (intraperitoneal), immersion (dip vaccination or bath), or oral vaccine exposure against enteric redmouth disease caused by a Gram-negative bacterium (Yersinia ruckeri) and to dissect the mechanisms underlying the protection in vaccinated fish upon challenge by studying the cellular and humoral components of the innate and adaptive immune system. The outcome of my Ph.D.  study was 5 published articles in peer reviewed journals.

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