PROTEASE ACTIVITY IN THE SMALL INTESTINE OF THE NORTHERN FULMAR <i>FULMARUS GLACIALIS</i> BY INFECTION OF <i>TETRABOTHRIUS MINOR</i> (CESTODA: TETRABOTHRIIDAE)

Abstract

The effect of infection of Tetrabothrius minor (Cestoda: Tetrabothriidae) on the protease activity of the mucous membrane of the small intestine of the Northern Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis was studied. Aspects of changes in the activity of proteases and protease subclasses (metalloproteases, serine proteases and cysteine proteases) by infection of T. minor, and the ability of T. minor to inactivate proteases from the intestinal mucosa and commercial trypsin were evaluated. It has been established that in the localization of T. minor (proximal and medial sections of the small intestine) decreased protease activity due to a decrease in the activity of serine proteases and metalloproteases. The dependence of the decrease of protease activity in the mucous membrane of the small intestine of the host on the parameters of infection with cestodes was found – the higher the infection intensity of T. minor, the lower the activity of proteases, including metalloproteases and serine proteases. The ability of T. minor homogenates to inhibit the activity of proteases from the mucosa of Northern Fulmar and the activity of commercial trypsin of different concentrations was noted.