Electrophoretic patterns of protein fractionations in hemolymph and tissues of Biomphalaria alexandrina and Bulinus truncatus during course of schistosome infection.

Electrophoresis of plasma protein of B. alexandrina (uninfected & infected with S. mansoni) showed that the major dominant bands had molecular weights of 20, 44, 96, 139 & 205 KD in both types of snails. The 1day & 1 week post miracidial exposure (PME) groups were characterized by band 54 KD. All groups except a day PME were characterized by a common band of MW 65 KD. Three days PME group had. three bands of 123 KD, 150 &177 KD, not found in other groups. The highest similarity index in 2 weeks PME & 5 weeks PME groups (during cercarial shedding) was 0.667 and the lowest one was in 3-days PME (0.5). The 3-days PME had a unique band of MW 177.04 KD, not found in other groups. Similar electrophoretic pattern of B. alexandrina tissue protein was seen. The major dominant bands had molecular weights of 14, 21, 80 and 140 KD in both non-infected and infected snails. The 1day PME had a band of 48.483 KD, 3-days PME had a band of 87.985 KD, one-week PME group characterized by two bands 61.761 KD and 70.338 KD. The two-weeks PME had a band 91.111 KD. While, the 5 week PME (during cercarial production) was the only group that shared the common band of MW 115 KD with controls. The highest similarity index in 5 weeks PME (during cercarial shedding) group was 0.545 and the lowest one was in 1 week & 2 weeks PME (0.43). The electrophoresis of plasma protein of B. truncatus (uninfected & infected with S. haematobium) showed that the major dominant bands had molecular weights of 20, 30, 65, 80, 106, 117 & 170 KD in both type of snails. The 1day PME group was characterized by three bands of MWs 26.539, 51.891 & 91.509 KD. All experimental groups, except 5 weeks PME (during cercarial shedding) and control, had a common band of MW 45 KD. Three days PME group had a characteristic band of 113.72 KD which was not found in any other group. The highest similarity index was in one week PME group was 0.857 and the lowest one in 1-day PME (0.5). In B. truncatus tissue protein, the major dominant bands by electrophoretic pattern had molecular weights of 20, 45, 54, 80, 97 & 171 KD in both type of snails. A day PME had a band of 73.544 KD and a week PME had a band of MW 60.813 KD. Two and 5 weeks PME groups had 2 bands of MWs 27 & 62 KD. All experimental groups had a characteristic band not found in control of MW 141 KD. The highest similarity index in 3-days PME was 0.8 and the lowest one was in 5 weeks PME during cercarial shedding(0.545).

Effect of Echinostoma liei infection on alterations of protein content and some enzymes in Biomphalaria alexandrina snails.

The survival rate and fecundity of B. alexandrina were greatly reduced when exposed to E. liei miracidia. Also, exposure of B. alexandrina snails to E. liei miracidia induced a disruption in the snail metabolism and this effect was more pronounced in 20-days post-miracidial exposure group than in 10-days group. Protein content was significantly reduced in all exposed snail groups than in the control group. A significant elevation in the levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) enzymes was recorded also in exposed snails than unexposed ones (control snails). The results indicated also that there were significant increases in the levels of acid and alkaline phosphatases enzymes in exposed snails.

Effect of double infection with Schistosoma mansoni and Echinostoma liei on some physiological parameters of Biomphalaria alexandrina.

The survival rate and fecundity of B. alexandrina were greatly influenced when exposed to either S. mansoni or E. liei miracidia. The snails exhibited much lower survival rate and fecundity when double exposed to both S. mansoni and E. liei miracidia than single exposure and control snails. The results indicated a disruption in the snail metabolism due to exposure to S. mansoni and E. liei miracidia and this effect was more pronounced in case of double exposure to the two parasites. Protein concentrations in hemolymph and tissues significantly reduced in all exposed snail groups than in the control group. A significant elevation in the levels of aspartate aminotransferase (ASAT) and alanine aminotransferase (Asat) enzymes was recorded in hemolymph and tissues of exposed snail than unexposed (control snails). The ASAT/ALAT ratios in tissue and hemolymph of single-exposed and unexposed B. alexandrina did not exceed 1, while it increased up to 1.18 in hemolymph of double exposed snails. There were significant increases in the levels of acid and alkaline phosphatases enzymes in exposed snails.