Evidence for the presence of nematode-derived acetylcholinesterase in sheep infected with Trichostrongylus colubriformis

The distribution of acetylcholinesterase isoenzymes in the ovine intestinal nematode Trichostrongylus colubriformis was compared with that in chronically infected and worm-free lambs. Total acetylcholinesterase activity in homogenates of adult T colubriformis was resolved into five isoenzyme peaks following gel electrophoresis and specific esterase staining. Two isoenzymes with electrophoretic mobilities similar to those present in adult worm homogenates were detected in mucosal homogenates and plasma extracts from all of six sheep chronically infected with T colubriformis, but not in similar preparations from two uninfected animals.