Some enzymes associated with lipid catabolism in the Fasciola hepatica larvae--Galba truncatula system. I. Esterases and lipases
Humiczewska, M.ła.; Rajski, K.
Wiadomosci Parazytologiczne 51(3): 233-238
2005
ISSN/ISBN: 0043-5163 PMID: 16913528 Document Number: 590736
Histochemical and cytofotometric techniques were used to detect esterase and lipase in the hepatopancreas of the snail Lymnaea truncatula and in larval stages of its parasite Fasciola hepatica. Activities of both enzymes were shown to increase in the infected hepatopancreas, compared with the control. The effect is ascribed by the authors to compensation processes emerging as a defence mechanism in the snail. Both enzymes, esterase and lipase proved to be highly active in tissues of sporocysts, rediae and cercariae, thus demonstrating the larvae to be capable of katabolism of lipids and utilising them as an energy source.