Respiration and carbohydrate energy metabolism of the lung-dwelling parasiteRhabdias bufonis(Nematoda: Rhabdiasoidea)

Abstract

SummaryAn investigation of the carbohydrate energy metabolism ofRhabdias bufonis, the lung-dwelling nematode parasite of the African toad,Bufo regularis, indicates that the nematode stores very little glycogen (0·137 ± 0·003% on a fresh weight basis) but does utilize oxygenin vitro. The intracellular distribution and high levels of activity observed for the enzymes phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, pyruvate kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, malate dehydrogenase, malic enzyme and fumarate reductase suggest two alternative pathways of carbohydrate energy metabolism.