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Enzymes in Schistosoma intercalatum and the relative status of the Lower Guinea and Zaire strains of the parasite

1979; Elsevier BV; Volume: 9; Issue: 6 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/0020-7519(79)90007-9

1879-0135

C. A. Wright, V. R. Southgate, G. C. Ross,

Helminth infection and control

Seven enzyme systems [phosphoglucomutases (PGM), glucose phosphate isomerases (GPI), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenases (G6PD), malate dehydrogenases (MDH), laetate dehydrogenases (LDH), acid phosphatases (AcP) and hexokinases] in extracts of adult worms from two isolates of Schistosoma intercalatum, one from Zaire and one from Cameroun, were compared by isoelectric focusing. Two systems (GPI and PGM) were also compared in extracts of cercariae. Distinctive differences between the strains were found in the LDH system and even more marked differences in the G6PD and PGM systems (the latter were apparent in both adult worm and cercarial extracts). These observations are discussed in conjunction with existing evidence on the results of intermediate host infection experiments and of experimental hybridization between the two strains of S. intercalatum. In turn these aspects are discussed in the light of what is known about other species of African Schistosoma. It is concluded that any definite decision on the relative status of the two strains of S. intercalatum is still premature.