Isoenzyme patterns of phosphatases and esterases in Fasciola hepatica and Dicrocoelium dendriticum

A study was made of alkaline and acid phosphatase isoenzymes and non-specific esterases in homogenates of the trematodes Fasciola hepatica and Dicrocoelium dendriticum obtained from infected tissues of Capra hircus and Ovis aries using horizontal polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.

The esterase patterns in F. hepatica and D. dendriticum were different. Homogenate of F. hepaticafrom both hosts gave four enzyme bands. For D. dendriticum, however, while homogenates of parasites from C. hircus also gave four bands, those of O. aries gave only three bands.

Acid and alkaline phosphatases in homogenates of both parasites showed three enzyme bands, but there was a host species difference betwen the enzyme patterns of specimens collected from C. hircus versus O. aries.