The occurrence of some histochemically demonstrable dehydrogenases in cercariae of Cloacitrema michiganensis (trematoda: philophthalmidae)

Abstract

1. 1. The occurrence and distribution of twelve dehydrogenases have been studied histochemically in the megalurous marine cercaria of Cloacitrema michiganensis McIntosh, 1938 from the naturally infected snail, Cerithidea californica. 2. 2. Strong to moderate activity was demonstrated at various sites in the cercariae for 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6-PGDH), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PDH), alpha-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase (alpha-GPDH), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), malate dehydrogenase (MDH), isocitrate dehydrogenase (ICDH), NADH diaphorase (NADHD) and NADPH diaphorase (NADPHD). 3. 3. No activity was observed for alcohol dehydrogenase (ALDH), glutamate dehydrogenase (GLDH) and beta-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase (beta-HBDH). 4. 4. The results indicate the possibility that the three major energy-producing pathways (pentose-phosphate shunt, glycolysis and Krebs cycle) and electron transport system may be available to this parasite during its free-living existence.