Abstract
Adult tape worms take up small molecules through their tegument and are therefore largely dependent on their host’s ability to break down carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. Cestodes have lost their capacity for de novo synthesis of lipids and have become entirely dependent on their host. It is reported that the cestodes are able to absorb both short and long chain fatty acids through a mixture of diffusion and mediated transport. Cestodes do not use lipids normally as energy reserve; instead these are being utilized for reproduction. In an attempt to know the lipid composition of the fowl cestode, Raillietina (Fuhrmannetta) echinobothrida, major lipid classes and their fatty acid compositions of this parasite were analyzed by TLC and GLC respectively. Fatty acid methyl esters of total lipid, neutral lipid, phospholipid, and glycolipid were prepared by transmethylation. Eighteen fatty acids were identified from the parasite. The percent content of neutral lipid (64.39), glycolipid (15.7) and phospholipid (19.91) were recorded. Palmitic (C16) and C18 (stearic) acids were the chief components among the fatty acids.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Literature cited
Ackman, R. G. 2000. Fatty acids in fish and shellfish. In: Fatty acids in Foods and their Health Implications. Chow, C. K. (ed.) M. Dekker, New York. pp 153–172.
Aisien, S. O., Ogiji, E. E. 1989. Observations on the lipids of Oochoristica agamae (Cestoda). Parasitol. Res., 75: 307–310.
Barrett, J. 1981. Biochemistry of Parasitic Helminthes. Univ. Park Press, Baltimore.
Barrett, J. 1983. Lipid metabolism. In: Biology of the Eucestoda, Arme, C., Pappas, P. W. (eds.) vol. 2, pp.391–419. Academic Pr., London.
Berg, J. M., Tymoczko, J. L., Stryer, L., Clarke, N. D. 2002. Biochemistry. 5th Edition. Freeman and Company, New York.
Bligh, E. G., Dyer, W. J. 1959. A rapid method of total lipid extraction and purification. Can. J. Biochem. Physiol., 37: 911–917
Buteau, G. H., Simons, J. E., Beach, D. H., Holz, Jr. G. G., Sherman, I. W. 1971. The lipids of cestodes from Pacific and Atlantic Coast Triakid sharks. J. Parasit., 57: 1272–1278.
Chappell, L. H. 1980. Physiology of Parasites. Blackie, Glasgow.
Christie, W. W. 2003. Lipid Analysis. 3rd Edition. Oily Press, Bridgwater.
Dalton, J.P., Skelly, P., Halton, D.W. 2004. Role of the tegument and gut in nutrient uptake by parasitic platyhelminths. Can. J. Zool., 82: 211–232.
Dey, C., Misra, K. K. 2009. Ultrastructural studies of internuncial processes in the tegument of a cyclophyllid cestode Raillietina (Fuhrmannetta) echinobothrida, a parasite of country fowl Gallus domesticus. Proc. zool. Soc., 62: 29–37.
Fried, B., Butler, M.S. 1977. Histochemical and thin layer chromatographic analysis of neutral lipids in metacercarial and adult Cotylurus sp. (Trematoda:Strigeidae). J. Parasit., 63:831–834.
Furlong, S. T., Thibault, K. S., Morbelli, L. M., Quinn, J. J., Rogers, R. A. 1995. Uptake and compartmentalization of fluorescent lipid analogs in larval Schistosoma mansoni. J. Lipid Res., 36: 1–12.
Ghosh, D. 2009. Competition for lipid and fatty acid uptake by a trematode parasite Paramphistomum cervi and its host, the Indian goat Capra hircus. Ph. D. Thesis, University of Calcutta, Calcutta.
Ghosh, A., Kar, K., Ghosh, D., Dey, C., Misra, K. K. 2009. Major lipid classes and their fatty acids in a parasitic nematode, Ascaridia galli. J. Parasit. Dis., (Submitted for publication).
Jacobsen, N. S., Fairbairn, D. 1967. Lipid metabolism in helminth parasites. III. Biosynthesis and interconversion of fatty acids by Hymenolepis diminuta (Cestoda). J. Parasit., 53: 355–361.
Meyer, F., Kimura, S., Mueller, J. F. 1966. Lipid metabolism in the larval and adult forms of the tapeworm Spirometra mansonoides. J. Biol. Chem., 241: 4224–4232.
Mills, G. L., Taylor, D. C., Williams, J. F. 1981. Lipid composition of metacestodes of Taenia taeniaeformis and lipid changes during growth. Mol. Biochem. Parasitol., 3: 301–318.
Moczoñ, T. 2006. Accumulation and utilization of lipids during the development of Hymenolepis diminuta cysticercoids. Acta Parasitol., 51: 152–155.
Rouser, G., Kritchevsky, G., Yamamoto, A. 1976. Column Chromatographic and Associated Procedures for Separation and Determination of Phosphatides and Glycolipids. In: Lipid Chromatographic Analysis. Marinetti, G. V. (Ed.) 2nd Edition. Volume 3. M Dekker, New York. pp 713–776.
Sato, S., Hirayama, T., Hirazawa, N. 2008. Lipid content and fatty acid composition of the monogenean Neobenedenia girellae and comparison between the parasite and host fish species. Parasitology, 135: 967–975.
Smyth, J.D. 1994. Animal Parasitology, Cambridge Univ. Pr., Cambridge.
Smyth, J. D., McManus, D. P. 1989. The Physiology and Biochemistry of Cestodes. 2nd. Ed. Cambridge Univ. Pr., Cambridge.
Tielens, A.G. M. 1997. Biochemistry of Trematodes. In: Advances in Trematode Biology, (Fried, B., Graczyk, T.K. Eds.), pp. 309–343. CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida.
Vykhrestyuk, N.P., Yarygina, G. V., Il’iasov, I. N. 1981. Lipids of Raillietina tetragona and Raillietina echinobothrida cestodes from the intestine of hens. Parazitologiia, 15: 525–532. (in Russian)
Ward, C. W., Fairbairn, D. 1070. Enzymes of beta-oxidation and the tricarboxylic acid cycle in adult Hymenlepis diminuta (Cestode) and Ascaris lumbricoides (Nematoda). J. Parasit., 56: 1009–1012.
White, A., Handler, P., Smith, E. L. 1964. Principles of Biochemistry. McGraw-Hill, New York.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Mondal, M., Mukhopadhyay, D., Ghosh, D. et al. Analysis of major lipid classes and their fatty acids in a cestode parasite of domestic fowl, raillietina (Fuhrmannetta) echinobothrida. Proc Zool Soc 62, 131–137 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12595-009-0015-3
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12595-009-0015-3