Differences in the chemical composition and carbohydrate metabolism ofEchinococcus granulosus(horse and sheep strains) andE. multilocularis

Abstract

SummaryMetabolic studiesin vitroand studies on chemical composition indicate basic biochemical differences between the horse and sheep strains ofEchinococcus granulosusand between these and the closely related species,E. multilocularis. The horse strain ofE. granulosushas a similar level of DNA, but significantly more polysaccharides and lipids, with less RNA and protein than the sheep strain.E. multilocularishas significantly more lipids and DNA but less polysaccharides than the horse and sheep strains ofE. granulosus, more RNA and protein than the horse strain but similar protein to and less RNA than the sheep strain. Incubations under air and under 95% N2-5% CO2for 3 h show that onlyE. multilocularistakes up glucose, that all three forms consume different amounts of oxygen and endogenous glycogen and produce different concentrations of lactate, succinate, acetate, malate, pyruvate, propionate and ethanol as end products of carbohydrate metabolism.