Biochemical Characterization Of Human Schistosomes And Their Molluscan Hosts By Electrophoretic Techniques

Abstract

The recent application of biochemical techniques in taxonomy markedly improved the specific identification and strain characterization of a wide range of living organisms. These techniques are gradually replacing classical anatomical and morphological indices commonly used for characterization of animal parasites particularly those of medical and veterinary importance. Amongest these biochemical techniques, both electrophoresis and iso-electric focusing proved to be most useful and reliable tools in this respect. The present investigation includes a detailed study of the electrophoretic and/or the iso-electric focusing patterns of soluble proteins, non specific esterases, acid phosphatases, aspartate amino transferase (AST), glutamate - oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT) and a-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase in some snail populations as well as in some strains of schistosomes. Certain inter-population and inter-strain variations are observed in the patterns of these proteins and enzymes proving the importance of the biochemical characterization of populations of snails and strains of schistosomes. The significant correlation between these observed biochemical variations and the differences observed in the susceptibility patterns of different populations of snails to infection with human schistosomes has been also attempted.