Comparative studies on the lipid composition of some digenetic trematodes

Abstract

Yusufi A. N. K. & Siddiqi A. H. 1976. Comparative studies on the lipid composition of some digenetic trematodes. International Journal for Parasitology 6: 5–8. Neutral lipids and phospholipids of six digenetic trematodes, Cotylophoron cotylophorum, Gastrothylax crumenifer and Gigantocotyle explanatum from water buffalo, Echinostoma malayanum and Fasciolopsis buski from pig and Isoparorchis hypselobagri from cat-fish were analyzed. Total lipid concentrations in trematodes varied considerably irrespective of their hosts and habitats. While triglycerides were the major components in all species, considerable amounts of phospholipids and free fatty acids were present in all species. Cholesterol was minimum (4–9%) in more or less all species, except in F. buski, where cholesterol, phospholipids and triglycerides constituted 13–14% and free fatty acids around 7%. Among phospholipids, choline and ethanolamine phosphatides were major polar lipids. Sphingomyelin and cardiolipin were present as small fractions and lysophosphatidylcholine was evenly distributed among all the species (9–12%) except in F. buski, which contained a little higher content (15%).