Biochemical Study of Some Enzymes in a Number of Digeneans Cercariae

ABSTRACT
Biochemical studies showed the presence of various significant distinctions in the activity of enzymes in some types of cercariae under study. The highest activity was (4.90 0.26) nmol/min/mg protein for adenosine deaminase in monostome cercaria, (297.30 7.99) mol/min/mg protein for glutathione S- transferase in microcercous cercaria, (209.40 6.05) mol/min/gm fresh weight for acetylcholinesterase in furcocercous cercariae, (94.67 1.15) enzymatic unit for lactate dehydrogenase in gymnocephalous cercaria. Finally, (23.40 1.08) enzymatic unit for alkaline phosphatase and (7.27 0.25)enzymatic unit for glucose-6-phophate dehydrogenase in distome cercaria. Therefore the activity of these enzymes could be used in distinguishing the various types of cercariae.
Electrophoresis technique showed different patterns of bands. Approximate molecular weights for protein bands in various cercariae varied between (25000-676000) Dalton.