Differentiation of three species of Hymenolepis (Cestoidea) using enzyme isoelectric focusing on thin-layer agarose gels

Abstract

In recent years, numerous gel electrophoretic techniques have been used as alternatives to the traditional morphological means of identifying tapeworm species. The present study describes the technique of enzyme isoelectric focusing on thin-layer agarose gels and its use in the differentiation of three closely related species of Hymenolepis. Clear species-specific banding patterns were obtained with each of five enzymes. The enzyme profiles of a given species were always similar, regardless of the definitive host species used. This technique provides a distinct advantage over morphological means of identification, which may be influenced by different host species. Further, while morphometric analyses generally require well-developed reproductive structures, enzyme patterns appear to be independent of the age of the worm. These results suggest that the technique could have considerable value in parasite surveys and clinical diagnoses in which non-host-specific tapeworms, of different developmental stages, are obtained.