Characterization of Hymenolepis diminuta (Cestoidea) strains, using enzyme isoelectric focusing

Abstract

This study evaluates the use of enzyme isoelectric focusing on thin-layer agarose gels in the differentiation of six geographical isolates of the rat tapeworm Hymenolepis diminuta. Differences in the enzyme profiles among these strains were apparent in two of five enzymes examined. A Japanese strain differed from all others in its more anodally positioned malic enzyme bands. This enzyme profile may be attributed to its more recent isolation from the wild type or to the unique origin of this strain. Two qualitatively different phosphoglucomutase banding patterns were apparent among the H. diminuta strains. This polymorphic nature of phosphoglucomutase has similarly been observed in a number of earlier studies. A number of problems are associated with the traditional morphological means of identifying cestodes, particularly at the intraspecific level. The enzyme pattern differences observed among the strains in this study indicate that enzyme isoelectric focusing may be a useful alternative.