Abstract
The microfilariae and adults ofSetaria cervi, a filarial parasite of Indian water-buffalo (Bubalus bubalis Linn.) and of other ruminants were analysed for various biochemical constituents. Both stages of the parasite were rich in protein, carbohydrate, and lipids while nucleic acids were detectable in only small amounts. Microfilariae and adults contained 10 and 25% dry matter, 57.4 and 63.0% protein, 8.9 and 14.8% carbohydrate, and 12.8 and 9.2% lipid, respectively. Reducing sugars accounted for 52 and 67% respectively of the total carbohydrate in these two stages. Glycogen accounted for 95% of total carbohydrate in the cold PCA soluble fraction of adult worms while its concentration in microfilariae was very low. Glucose was the main constitutent of reducing sugars while concentrations of fructose were very low. Microfilariae contained more lipids, nucleic acids, mucopolysaccharides, and total phosphorus than adults. The phospholipid percentage was higher in microfilariae than in adults. The amino acid pattern of both stages was very similar.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Anwar, N., Ansari, A.A., Ghatak, S., Krishna Murti, C.R.:Setaria cervi: Enzymes of glycolysis and PEP-succinate pathway. Z. Parasitenkd.51, 275–283 (1977)
Barrett, J.: Lipids of the infective and parasitic stages of some nematodes. Nature218, 1267–1268 (1968)
Bergmeyer, H.U., Benut, E. In: Methods of enzymatic analysis, H.U. Bergmeyer, ed., p. 123. New York: Academic Press 1963
Brand, von Th.: The carbohydrate metabolism of parasites. J. Parasitol.36, 178–192 (1950)
Brand, von Th.: Biochemistry of parasites. 2nd edn., New York: Academic Press 1973
Brand, von Th., Bowman, I.B.R., Weinstein, P.P., Sawyer, T.K.: Observations on the metabolism ofDirofilaria uniformis. Exp. Parasitol.13, 128–133 (1963)
Bueding, E.: Studies on the metabolism of filarial wormLitomosoides carinii. J. Exp. Med.89, 107–130 (1949)
Castro, G.A., Fairbairn, D.: Carbohydrate and lipids inTrichinella spiralis larvae and their utilization in vitro. J. Parasitol.55, 51–58 (1969)
Ceriotti, G.: A microchemical determination of deoxyribonucleic acid. J. Biol. Chem.198, 297–303 (1952)
Dische, Z.: Some new characteristic tests for thymonucleic acid and a microchemical method for determining the same in animal organs by means of these tests. Mikrochemie8, 4–32 (1930)
Dische, Z.: A new specific color reaction of hexuronic acid. J. Biol. Chem.167, 189–198 (1947)
Elson, L.A., Morgan, W.T.J.: A colorimetric method for the determination of glucosamine and chondrosamine. Biochem. J.27, 1824–1828 (1933)
Fairbairn, D.: Trehalose and glucose in helminths and other invertebrates. Can. J. Zool.36, 787–795 (1958)
Fiske, C.H., Subbarow, Y.: The colorimetric determination of phosphorus. J. Biol. Chem.66, 375–400 (1925)
Folch, J., Lees, M., Sloane Stanley, G.H.: A simple method for the isolation and purification of total lipids from animal tissues. J. Biol. Chem.226, 497–509 (1957)
Glocklin, V.C., Firbairn, D.: Metabolism ofHeterakis gallinae. I. Aerobic and anaerobic respiration: Carbohydrate sparing action of carbon dioxide. J. Cell. Comp. Physiol.39, 341–356 (1952)
Good, C.A., Cramer, H., Somogyi, N.: The determination of glycogen. J. Biol. Chem.100, 485–491 (1933)
Gupta, N.K., Kalia, D.C.: Free amino acids ofSetaria cervi (Rud., 1819) Baylis, 1939. Indian J. Parasitol.1, 101–102 (1977)
Jenkins, T.: A morphological and histochemical study ofTrichuria suis (Schrank, 1788) with special reference to the host parasite relationship. Parasitology61, 357–374 (1970)
Lowry, O.H., Rosebrough, N.J., Farr, A.L., Randall, R.J.: Protein measurement with the folin phenol reagent. J. Biol. Chem.193, 265–275 (1951)
Mejbaum, W.: Estimation of small amounts of pentose especially in derivatives of adenylic acid. Z. Physiol. Chem.258, 117–120 (1939)
Montgomery, R.: Determination of glycogen. Arch. Biochem. Biophys.67, 378–386 (1957)
Park, J.T., Johnson, M.J.: Submicrodetermination of glucose. J. Biol. Chem.181, 149–151 (1949)
Roe, J.H.: A colorimetric method for the determination of fructose in blood and urine. J. Biol. Chem.107, 15–22 (1934)
Rogers, W.P.: The physiological ageing ofAncylostoma larvae. J. Helminthol.17, 195–202 (1939)
Schneider, W.C.: Determination of nucleic acids in tissue by pentose analysis. Methods Enzymol.3, 680 (1957)
Singhal, K.C., Saxena, P.N., Johri, M.B.L.: Studies on the use ofSetaria cervi for in vitro antifilarial screening. Jpn. J. Pharmacol.23, 793–796 (1973)
Srivastava, V.M.L.: Cited in: Biochemical studies on certain pathogenic helminths. Thesis submitted to Agra University, Agra, India, 1969
Srivastava, V.M.L., Chatterjee R.K., Sen, A.B., Ghatak, S., Krishna Murti, C.R.: Glycolysis inLitomosoides carinii. Exp. Parasitol.28, 176–185 (1970)
Srivastava, V.M.L., Ghatak, S.: Glycolytic and carbon dioxide metabolizing enzymes inChandlerella hawkingi. Indian J. Biochem. Biophys.8, 108–111 (1971)
van den H. Bossche, Vanparijs, D.F.J., Thienpont, D.: Studies on carbohydrate metabolism of third stageHaemonchus contortus larvae. Life Sci.8, 1047–1054 (1969)
Wilson, P.A.G.: Changes in lipid and nitrogen content ofNippostrongylus brasiliensis infective larvae aged at constant temperature. Exp. Parasitol.16, 190–194 (1965)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Rathaur, S., Anwar, N. & Ghatak, S. Biochemical composition of microfilarial and adult stages ofSetaria cervi . Z. Parasitenkd. 62, 85–93 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00925369
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00925369