Inorganic elements in the adults of Ascaridia galli (Schrank, 1788).

Inorganic analysis of Ascaridia galli has shown the levels of sodium, potassium, copper, magnesium, calcium, zinc, iron, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulphur, chlorine and cobalt (expressed as percentage of dry weight) to be higher in females than in males.

The effect of piperazine adipate and parbendazole on the carbohydrate metabolism of Ascaridia galli and Heterakis gallinae.

Carbohydrate metabolism of Ascardia galli and Heterakis gallinae was studied after their exposure in vitro to 10(-2) to 10(-5) M piperazine adipate and parbendazole for 10 to 60 min. Following treatment with 10(-2) M piperazine adipate O2 uptake was reduced by 87% in A. galli and 70% in H. gallinae, while parbendazole (10(-2) M) reduced O2 uptake by 70% and 86%, respectively. Glycogen contents were reduced significantly by 10(-2) M piperazine adipate in both the worms, while lactic acid level was enhanced. Parbendazole, however, did not cause any significant change in glycogen contents and lactic acid level in either parasite.

Purification and characterization of a glycoprotein from the surface of Ascaridia galli.

Employing papain as the enzyme and agarose bound Ricinus communis agglutinin as the affinity gel, a glycoprotein has been isolated and purified from the surface of Ascaridia galli. The glycoprotein shows an apparent molecular weight of 68 kilo daltons and contains fucose, galactose, rhamnose and glucosamine as sugar moieties. Only 2% of its entire molecule has been found to possess alpha-helical configuration.

Ascaris lumbricoides and Ascaridia galli: biogenic amines in adults and developmental stages.

Ascaris lumbricoides var. hominis and Ascaridia galli contain 5-hydroxytryptamine, histamine, dopamine, and norepinephrine. The chick parasite showed lower levels of monoamines compared to human ascaris. Amine concentrations in females were higher than in males. In all specimens, 5-hydroxytryptamine was the highest while norepinephrine was found to be uniformly low. The female reproductive organ contained the maximum amount of dopamine while intestine was rich in histamine. A progressive increase in the concentrations of biogenic amines was noticed during development.

Purification and characterisation of tubulin from the parasitic nematode, Ascaridia galli.

We have developed a method for the purification of tubulin from a parasitic nematode using DEAE-Sephadex column chromatography and temperature-dependent assembly. The resulting microtubules were morphologically similar to those obtained from mammalian brain. The nematode tubulin showed similar properties to mammalian tubulin on one and two dimensional polyacrylamide gels, although certain electrophoretic conditions revealed a slight difference in the alpha-tubulins from mammals and nematodes. This was confirmed by limited proteolytic peptide mapping. The beta subunit of nematode tubulin appeared almost identical to that of mammals. Peptide maps of these tubulins were also compared with those of eukaryotic micro-organisms and these results interpreted in terms of the evolution of the tubulin polypeptides and the sensitivity of helminths to antimicrotubular agents.

[Facts that explain the host specificity of helminths]. / Nekotorye fakty, ob''iasniaiushchie gostal'nuiu spetsifichnost' gel'mintov.

Extracts from larvae of Trichinella spiralis, mature Ascaridia galli and Ascaris suum and blood sera of their possible hosts (rats, pigs, chicks, guinea pigs, mice and men) were investigated by the method of electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gel. The protein component was found to be most identical in helminth and its obligate host. The host specificity is supposed to depend on the community of the protein content of the parasite and its host. The data on the difference in protein spectra are given and the peculiarities of the evolution of mono- and polyhost helminths are discussed.

Comparative histochemical observations on the excretory system of helminth parasites.

The excretory canals of Ascaridia galli (Nematoda) and the protonephridial ducts of Cotylophoron cotylophorum (Trematoda) and Raillietina cesticillus (Cestoda) have been studied with regard to the histochemical localization of lipids, carbohydrates and hydrolytic enzymes. Distinct excretory organs are absent in the acanthocephalan Centrorhynchus corvi. Triglycerides, phospholipids and lipoproteins are seen in association with the wall of excretory canals of A. galli and R. cesticillus, and phospholipids and lipoproteins at the corresponding site in C. cotylophorum. The physiological significance of lipids in association with excretion of substances has been discussed. Low molecular weight glycogen is present in the lumen of excretory canal of A. galli but not in other worms. The common feature of the excretory canals is the presence of enzyme activities of nonspecific alkaline phosphatase and Mg2+-dependent ATPase. Activity of acid phosphatase is seen only in the excretory canals of A. galli. Glucose-6-phosphatase is present in A. galli and C. cotylophorum and absent in R. cesticillus. Weak reaction of 5'-nucleotidase is present in the excretory canals of helminth species studied here. The role of these enzymes in transportation of substances across the wall of excretory canals and also in ionic regulation has been discussed in detail.