The activity, in terms of speed of action, of three anticestode drugs against Hymenolepis nana, both in vivo and in vitro, was investigated. Praziquantel was most effective in vivo, but had little action on adult worms and cysticercoids in vitro. Niclosamide, the least effective in vivo, was highly toxic in vitro. Compound 77–6 killed adult worms and cysticercoids in vitro in 10 min and 15 min respectively at 1000 μg/ml of drug concentration, but its in viro effect was intermediate between that of praziquantel and niclosamide.

40-kR /-irradiated third-stage larvae of Oesophagostomum columbianum were used for the immunization of Kashmir Merino lambs. Male lambs (aged from 8 to 12 weeks) were immunized in two separate experiments by two doses of irradiated larvae, given 21 days apart, and subsequently challenged with normal larvae. Judging by the establishment of worms resulting from the challenge infections in the immunized and control groups of lambs in the two experiments, a high degree of immunity was shown to develop in young lambs vaccinated with 500, followed 21 days later with 2000, 40-kR irradiated larvae. Lambs from the immunized groups showed more nodules in the intestine, a high percentage of which were positive for histotrophic stages of O. columbianum, than did controls. The importance of this finding in relation to the possible use of a vaccine for the immuno-prophylaxis of oesophagostomiasis in sheep and other animals is discussed.

The development of Schistosoma margrebowiei in hamsters, mice and gerbils has been studied following infection by cercariae obtained from laboratory-infected Bulinus natalensis. The rate is compared with that of other schistosome spp. and found to be very fast. In vitro development was slower and did not proceed beyond the closed-gut stage.

Female Gallus gallus L. are more susceptible to Heterakis pusilla than are male hosts. The worm burden decreased with increase in size and weight of domestic fowls. The frequency distribution of H. pusilla in the two sexes, and by host's size and weight classes was log-normal.

Albino mice were infected per os with 1000 infective larvae of Ancylostoma caninum and pulmonary superoxide dismutase activity was studied after completion of lung migration. The total superoxide dismutase activity per mg of lung protein was elevated by 15% in infected mice. Of the two forms of superoxide dismutases studied, that containing Cu-Zn was elevated by 44%. this suggests that A. caninum in mice may result in histopathological changes leading to transient pulmonary oxygen toxicity.

Specific and non-specific esterases have been localized in sections and whole mounts of Avitellina lahorea, an intestinal parasite of sheep and goats. Non-specific esterases (NSE) were found in the sucker muscles, post-acetabular ganglia, nerve trunks, tegument, excretory canals, cirrus sac, vagina, uterus and the inner membrane of the embryophore. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) was observed in all the above organs, including vas deferens and sperm ducts, but was absent from excretory canals and eggs. Tests with acetylthiocholine iodide (AThChI) revealed the nervous system, vas deferens, sperm ducts, uterus, cirrus sac and the vagina. The intensity of activity of AChE and AThChI was weak compared to NSE.

The filarial parasites Litomosoides carinii and Dipetalonema viteae both show transcuticular uptake of adenosine 3′, 5′-cyclic monophosphate but isoproterenol is taken up by D. viteae only. The importance of this difference is discussed from the point of view of metabolic regulation. Inhibition of uptake by lectins indicates the involvement of surface sugar moieties in the transport processes.

Larvae and adults of Strongyloides ratti were examined for collagenolytic activity on 14C proline-labelled, native, guinea-pig skin collagen substrate. The activity was measured by determining either the amount of hydroxyproline released or the amount of radioactivity in the solubilized fraction of the collagen substrate. Bacterial collagenase was used for enzyme control and trypsin served as substrate control. No collagenolytic activity was found in living larvae, their extracts or metabolites. The collagenolytic activity of the metabolites of adult worms appeared weak, whereas that of the extracts of the adults was pronounced. It is suggested that collagenase is active in the adult females at the time of migration in the intestinal mucosa during oviposition.

The antigenic properties of adult male and female of Dipetalonema viteae were studied by immunocytochemistry. Using antisera of the rodents Meriones unguiculatus and Mastomys natalensis infected with D. viteae, the binding of antibodies to sections of filariae embedded in Epon was assayed by the peroxidase-antiperoxidase (PAP) technique and by electron microscopy. The optimal staining intensity was obtained with an antiserum dilution of 1:5000. Control sera were obtained from sex and age matched uninfected animals.

Female D. viteae showed maximal antigen-antibody reactions within the uterus: in the inner uterus wall, in the “nutrient channels” between the maturing eggs and the differentiating microfilariae, on the eggshells, in the cuticula of microfilariae and in the spermatheca on the cell membrane of the mature spermatozoa. Male filariae showed binding of antibodies in the vesicula seminalis: in the nucleus and the nuclear membrane of primary spermatocytes and on maturing spermatids. Less pronounced antigen-antibody reactions in the cuticula, muscle and intestine were observed in both sexes.

The PAP-technique offers significant improvements in comparison with other techniques, e.g., immunofluorescence, used to detect antigens on filariae: the PAP-technique has an increased sensitivity with a concomitant reduction in nonspecific background and can be used for both light and electron microscopy; moreover, PAP-treated tissues can be stored indefinitely at room temperature.

Thometrema magnifica from Hypostomus commersoni and Loricariichthys anus (new host) is redescribed with additional morphological data and original figures, measurements and figures of Szidat's paratypes. Gibson & Bray's hypothesis that T. portoalegrensis is its synonym is confirmed.

The prevalence of schistosomiasis and the distribution of the snail intermediate hosts on three adjoining irrigated estates in the lowveld of Swaziland was investigated. The prevalence rates of Schistosoma haematobium and S. mansoni among estate employees was lower than anticipated and there was a marked difference between the prevalence rates of S. mansoni between estates. The reasons for this and the influence of water supplies and agricultural practice on the prevalence of schistosomiasis are discussed.

The development of lymphoid cells reactive to tapeworm-associated antigens during the course of Hymenolepis diminuta rejection from mice was studied using an in vitro tapeworm extract (TWE)-induced cell proliferation culture system. Mice infected with three cysticercoids on day 0 developed three adult worms by day 7 but worms were rejected by day 21 post-infection. Concomitant with worm rejection was the development of TWE-sensitized lymphoid cells which responded by proliferation when stimulated in vitro with TWE. Sensitized cells were detected in gut-associated mesenteric lymph nodes but were not detected in spleen, axillary lymph nodes, or peyer's patches of infected mice, or in lymphoid organs of non-infected mice. These studies suggest that rejection of H. diminuta from mice is associated with the activities of gut-associated, tapeworm antigen-sensitized immune cells localized in the mesenteric lymph nodes.

The cement glands of Acanthocephalus serendibensis have been studied, using some routine histological and histochemical procedures. There are six multinucleate syncytial glands which produce a granular secretion which is a protein-mucosubstance complex, the mucosubstance component being of the neutral type. The secretion granules are seen in the body of the glands as well as in the reservoirs and ducts. The granules presumably coalesce to form the so-called cement which is discharged during copulation and seals off the genital region of the female after copulation and insemination.

Acerylcholinesterase (EC 3:1:1:7) and alkaline phoshatase (EC 3:1:3:1) were detected in secretions of Moniezia expansa maintained in vitro. Ultrastructural cytochemical studies demonstrated acetylcholinesterase activity on the surface of the microtriches at the base of the interproglittidal glands and in the gland lumen but not in the distal tegument or the gland cells. Alkaline phoshatase activity was demonstrated in the cytoplasm of the gland cells and especially in their protoplasmic connections with the distal tegument. Activity was also found in the distal tegument and the microtriches. It is suggested that the acetylcholinesterase secreted by M. expansa performs a metabolic role at the worms's surface.

Mice infected with Nematospiroides dubius were incapable of responding normally to i.p. or i.v. challenge with SRBC. The HA and PFC response to SRBC in infected animals was characterized by a severe depression of antibody to SRBC on day 4 and a reduced HA peak titre during the following week. The greatest depression of the response to SRBC was associated with an interval of 14 days between infection and the administration of antigen, suggesting that a particular stage of the parasite contributed significantly to immunodepression during this critical period. It was proposed that a combination of parasite induced damage to the intestine, release of parasite secretory/excretory products and loss of appetite by the host produced trauma during which the host was incapable of responding normally.

However, mice given low-level and long-standing infections also showed reduced responses to SRBC, although these animals were not severely depressed. It is possible that this generalized weakening of host immunocompetence is the inevitable consequence of a parasite mechanism which operates more specifically to suppress the expression of homologous immunity at the intestinal level.

The oocapt of Paramphistomum cervi has a narrow constriction followed by a wide lumen with a thickened wall and is surrounded by several unicellular flask-shaped gland cells opening into the lumen. The oocapt gland cells are filled with granules, the size and number of which vary in the body cells and its duct. Histochemical studies have shown that the oocapt gland cells secrete mainly mucoproteins but a few lipoprotein and phospholipid granules have also been observed. The passage of the oocyte through the lumen of the oocapt, appears to stimulate the oocapt gland cells to release their secretion which seems to be involved in transport of the oocyte through the oviduct.