Sera of Sudanese patients with active infections of Schistosoma mansoni or S. haematobium were tested in immunoblots for their reactivity with Mr31/32 000 proteins of adult S. mansoni (Sm31/32). All sera from patients with intestinal (n=123) and all but one from those with urinary schistosomiasis (n=35) had antibodies against Sm31/32. These and additional data suggest that both specificity and sensitivity of Sm31/32 to detect schistosome infections are close to 100%. Antibodies against these proteins developed also in monkeys after experimental infection with S. haematobium. Sm31/32 antigens reacted in immunoblots as a doublet with most S. haematobium-patient sera and as a broad band with many S. mansoni-sera suggesting that at least two components are present in the molecular weight region of Mr31/32 000. The data demonstrate the potential use of Sm31/32 from adult worms to diagnose patients with intestinal or urinary schistosomiasis in endemic areas.

Transplanted infections of Dipetalonema viteae and Brugia pahangi have been evaluated as tools for experimental chemotherapy. Attempts were made to establish these filariae in similar pharmacokinetic sites within the same host, so that direct comparisons of in vivo drug susceptibilities could be made. Unfortunately, it was not possible to establish B. pahangi in the subcutaneous tissues, the preferred site of D. viteae. Therefore, intraperitoneal B. pahangi and subcutaneously implanted D. viteae in gerbils were used for the study. D. viteae infections were significantly enhanced by concomitant infections with B. pahangi, while B. pahangi infection rates were unaffected by the presence of D. viteae. Experiments with amoscanate, CGP6140 and Mel W demonstrated the importance of employing both B. pahangi and D. viteae for antifilarial discovery work and the fundamental effect of parasite location on drug efficacy. D. viteae rapidly migrate from the peritoneal cavity of gerbils following implantation; twenty one hours after infection 73% of transplanted worms were found in the subcutaneous tissues. It was shown that the migration response could be used as a stringent parameter for demonstrating antifilarial activity. D. viteae were exposed to antifilarial drugs for 24 hours in vitro, washed and implanted into the peritoneal cavity of gerbils. At autopsy, 5 days later, 10−8M ivermectin and milbemycin D had prevented migration; CGP6140, amoscanate, suramin, flubendazole and furapyrimidone were also detected at <10−6M using this parameter. In all cases the migration response was more sensitive to drugs than parasite kill. Ivermectin's ability to inhibit worm migration through the tissues is discussed, with respect to the role of itinerant males in the reproductive cycle of Onchocerca volvulus.

Artificially prepared cow pats containing Ostertagia ostertagi eggs were deposited on two pasture plots in May, June and July 1986. Half of the cow pats, placed on one plot, were inoculated with 2000 conidia per gram faeces of the predacious fungus Arthrobotrys oligospora. On the other plot fungus-free control cow pats were placed at the same time. In the faeces generally fewer infective O. ostertagi larvae developed in the inoculated than in the control cow pats. On the herbage around the control cow pats deposited in May, June and July a maxium concentration of infective larvae was found at the same time on the 6th of August 1986. At that time the herbage larval infectivity around inoculated cow pats deposited in May, June and July was subject to a reduction of 48%, 89% and 46%, respectively, compared with fungus-free control cow pats. This experiment indicates that a concentration of 2000 A. oligospora conidia per gram faeces results in a significant lowering of the herbage larval infectivity during the grazing season in Denmark.

The percentage composition and spatial distribution of embryogenic stages in the uteri of female Dirofilaria immitis were examined at various times after treatment with a microfilaricidal dose of ivermectin and compared to nontreated parasites. Worms sampled 42 days post-treatment (PT) exhibited an increased proportion of stretched microfilariae in the distal portion of the uterus. A decreased proportion of developed embryos was noted in the mid body region of worms sampled 42 days PT, and these forms were completely absent from the proximal area of the uterus. Relative numbers and spatial distribution of other stages remained virtually identical to controls. Radical changes in the composition and spatial distribution of embryogenic forms were noted in the uteri of a single worm sampled 80 days PT. Unlike nontreated parasites and worms sampled 42 days PT, stretched crofilariae constituted the predominant form in the distal uterus of this worm, and these stages were found in decreasing numbers throughout the proximal segments. Also, the intermediate embryogenic stages were either rare or absent.

The free-living stages of Oswaldocruzia filiformis were cultured in tapwater under constant and changing temperature regimes. Embryonation and hatching proceeded at constant temperatures from 6° to 32°C; development of larvae to the third (infective) stage occurred between 6° and 34°C. The duration of development decreased with increased temperatures up to 28°C. The duration of development of egg and larval stages under changing temperatures was compared with values predicted from constant temperature experiments. The rate of development of eggs to hatching was significantly accelerated under regimes of both sudden and gradual temperature changes. The effect of fluctuating temperatures on larval development was less consistent; both acceleration and retardation effects were recorded. Frog tadpoles (Rana temporaria) were experimentally infected with O. filiformis; early parasitic development proceeded significantly faster at room temperature than at 9–10°C.

Ovine and equine protoscoleces of Echinococcus granulosus were cultured for 26 days with our without praziquantel and viability assessed, by eosin exclusion, for cultures in various drug concentrations (50, 250 and 500 μg/l) and periods of exposure (1, 3 or 7 days (d)) before removing/‘rescuing’ to drug-free medium. Drug efficacy was proportional to drug concentration and to length of exposure. At higher drug concentrations shorter exposures were required to produce the effect of continuous drug treatment, 1d therapy at 500 μg/l killing 96% ovine protoscoleces by day 14 whereas 7d therapy at 50 μg/l was required to produce a similar effect. Equine protoscoleces appeared marginally less susceptible than those of ovine origin. The relevance of the results in the need for peri-operative prophylaxis against spilled protoscoleces in man is discussed.

The model of Onchocerca lienalis microfilariae (mf) injected into inbred CBA/Ca mice was studied for its usefulness as an additional primary/secondary drug screen for onchocerciasis. Invermectin, DEC, suramin, flubendazole, mebendazole, levamisole, Mel W, furapyrimidone, metrifonate, amoscanate and the new Ciba-Geigy compounds CGP 6140, CGP 20'376 and CGI 17658 all significantly reduced levels of mf at a dose of 5x100 mg/kg or less. An early dosing protocol, on days 3–7 after infection, was found to be generally more effective than dosing on days 11–15, followed by necropsy on day 18. In some cases there were important differences in levels of drug activity depending on whether the drug was administered by the subcutaneous or oral route, indicating that new compounds should be tested via both routes. Ivermectin was by far the most active compound examined, virtually clearing mf from the skin at a dose of 5x0.0063 mg/kg and producing a significant mf reduction (63.5%) at 5x0.008 mg/kg following subcutaneous administration. In comparison, DEC was much less active, producing a 32.4% mf reduction at 5x25 mg/kg ranging up to a maximum of 72% reduction at 5x100 mg/kg. CGI 17658 was the most active compound examined next to ivermectin, almost 100% effective against skin mf at a dose of 5x6.25 mg/kg via the oral route while being less effective via subcutaneous administration (65% reduction). The lowest effective dose examined was 5x3.13 mg/kg (per os) which reduced mf levels by 64%. CGP 20'376 was also very active, resulting in a 46% (subcutaneous) and 62% (per os) reduction at a dose of 5x6.25 mg/kg. This mouse model has clearly identified all the known microfilaricides examined and also, to a lesser extent, those compounds considered to be principally macrofilaricides. We believe it has value as an additional drug screen for onchocerciasis, which will enable the evaluation of novel compounds against skin-dwelling Onchocerca mf at the primary/secondary level, providing complementary information to new in vitro screens using adult Onchocerca.

An average of 11% of adult Schistosoma curassoni were recovered from 200 albino mice which had been infected subcutaneously with 150–250 cercariae. Worms were primarily found in the portal veins. The average number of intrauterine eggs per female during the first 100 days p.i. was 13 and the average number of eggs produced per female worm was 103 per day for the first 60 days post oviposition. The majority of eggs were recovered from the liver (98·3%). The oograms were determined until day 95 p.i. For screening of antischistosomal drugs it is recommended not to use infections older than 60 d.p.i.

Optimum conditions for the in vitro transformation of Diplostomum spathaceum cercariae have been established by which large numbers of post-penetration larvae (diplostomules) can be produced; short-term maintenance of diplostomules in vitro is described. Experimental studies on this migratory larval stage may now be possible.

Use was made of seven FITC labelled lectins as tools to investigate the surface of Onchocerca lienalis larvae as they develop through to the infective third-stage in a natural vector, Simulium ornatum. The lectins were derived from Canavalia ensiformis (Con A), Lens culinaris (lentil), Triticum vulgaris (wheat germ), Arachis hypogaea (peanut), Helix pomatia, Phaseolus vulgaris (kidney bean) and Tetragonolobus purpureus (asparagus pea). Between 70 and 100 living parasites were examined for each developmental stage; i.e. skin microfilariae, late first-stages, second-stages, preinfective third-stages and infective third-stages isolated from the mouth parts of the flies. None of the lectins used bound to the surface of the microfilariae. However, progressive binding to the cuticle of the first- and second-stages was observed using Con. A, lentil lectin and wheat germ agglutinin (WGA). Following moulting to the third-stage, binding of these three lectins declined. Furthermore, as these lectins decreased, peanut and Helix pomatia lectins progressively increased in their binding, despite the fact that they showed little or no binding to the first- and second-stages; stages at which Con A, lentil and WGA were at their maximum. Asparagus pea and kidney bean lectins failed completely to bind to any of the larvae examined. Carbohydrate inhibition tests showed that the lectin was indeed binding specifically to glycoconjugates on the parasite surface. WGA binding was not inhibited by prior incubation with N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, even at high concentrations, but neuraminic acid did completely inhibit its binding. Judging from the patterns of binding on the nematodes themselves, the carbohydrates may not be vector in origin, but derive from the worms. The lectin specificities indicate that initially mannose/glucose type derivatives are present on the surface. Following moulting to the third-stage these are progressively replaced, or overlaid with galactosamine type derivatives, also present on the infective third-stage as it enters the bovine host. The availability of these surface glycoconjugates to attack mediated by natural insect lectins may be of importance in the parasite regulatory mechanisms of the blackfly. Variability in these surface carbohydrates, and in the response to them could well be a contributing factor in the cytospecific variation in S. damnosum susceptibility to geographical variants of O. volvulus.

A series of monoclonal antibodies was prepared against tegumental and internal antigens of Fasciola hepatica by immunizing mice with whole adult-fluke homogenates prior to harvesting the splenic lymphocytes for fusion. Preliminary screening by the Indirect Fluorescent Antibody technique indicated the occurrence of discrete groups of monoclonals differing from one another in tissue-specificity but within which IFA labelling patterns were fairly consistent. Representative hybridomas for 5 of these groups were stabilized and used to produce ascites fluid in mice. By application of an immunogold labelling technique it was possible to map the distribution of antigens for which each monoclonal antibody had affinity throughout the tissues of 4-week and 12-week flukes. Several monoclonals specifically labelled antigenic determinants on the important tegumental antigen T1. However the distribution of gold colloid labelling suggested that epitopes other than that normally exposed to the infected host were recognized; and several monoclonals specifically attached to T1 antigen in the tegument of juvenile worms only. The glycocalyx of the gut and excretory system of flukes shared T1 antigenicity with the tegument. Monoclonal antibodies were produced against an internal immunogen associated with ribosomes and heterochromatin in active protein-producing cells, and against interstitial material of adult flukes. Monoclonals against antigens in parenchymal cell cytoplasm and in mature vitelline cells were recognized but the corresponding hybridomas were not stabilized.

The effect of ingestion by Lymnaea auricularia on the viability and infectivity of Fasciola gigantica metacercariae was studied. The cyst wall was unaffected by the snail's digestive processes. Two rabbits, each infected with 50 ingested metacercariae, died at 83 and 87 days post-infection. Eight and 10 immature flukes were recovered from the livers, indicating that the metacercariae had remained infective after passing through the intestine of the snail.

Various populations of laboratory bred bulinid snails were exposed to miracidia of Schistosoma bovis from Mbozi. The parasite is naturally transmitted by Bulinus globosus in the area. Laboratory infection revealed a good relationship with B. forskalii and B. globosus from Mbozi and a population of B. forskalii from Dar es Salaam (infection rates 100%, 63·6% and 41·7% respectively). Populations of B. globosus and B. nasutus from Dar es Salaam were refractory. It appears that both snail species (B. globosus and B. forskalii) present in Mbozi district transmit S. bovis.

Faecal cultures were established using bovine faeces containing known numbers of eggs from either Oesophagostomum radiatum, Haemonchus placei, Cooperia pectinata or a mixture of all three. A substantially greater percentage of larvae was recovered from cultures of O. radiatum and C. pectinata than was recovered from cultures of H. placei. The same pattern was observed in mixed cultures although yields of larvae from all species in mixed cultures were significantly reduced (p<0·001). The lower recovery of H. placei was not associated with a lower viability of H. placei eggs. Of the three different methods of harvesting larvae, the jar and mesh recovery technique was the least effective and significantly fewer larvae were recovered with this technique than with the Baermann and inversion techniques (p<0·05). The results are discussed with reference to the use of faecal culture and larval differentiation in the diagnosis of mixed species nematode infections of cattle.

The possibility of safe immunization of chicks at an appropriate age with a double-dose irradiated Ascaridia galli vaccine given orally at two weeks interval was explored. Chicks immunized at 7 or 10 days of age were not affected adversely since they did not develop any clinical signs and there was no worm establishment after challenge infection. Immunization also elicited detectable circulating antibody titres, with IHA and the conglutinating complement absorption test having a tendency to be enhanced after the booster dose.

Schistosoma curassoni has been recovered from cattle in northern Nigeria. Rectal scrapings of 90 cows slaughtered at the Kano abattoir, Kano, Nigeria during March and April 1986 revealed a prevalence of 7·8% S. bovis and 2·2% S. curassoni. Further examination of the mesenteric and rectal veins of 502 cows showed that the overall prevalence of schistosomiasis was 31·1%. Local Bulinus globosus were infected successfully in the laboratory with S. bovis miracidia.

The consequences of previous and concurrent infection with two related species of cestodes, Hymenolepis nana and H. diminuta, were studied in CD1 mice. A H. diminuta infection strongly affected the establishment and the survival of a secondary H. nana egg or cyst infection administered 30 days later. An infection of 20 H. nana eggs strongly protected against a 5-cyst H. diminuta challenge, whereas an infection of 10 H. nana cysts was ineffective; 20 H. nana eggs also protected against a challenge with 5 cysts of H. diminuta administered 5 days later. No effects were observed in either parasite during a concurrent infection established by administration of cysts. An H. nana egg-infection was unable to affect the establishment of a secondary H. nana cyst-infection given 1 month later; however a significant decrease in growth was found. Similar results were found when a primary H. nana egg-infection was followed 5 days later by the homologous cyst-infection. But an infection with 5 H. nana cysts was unable to protect against a homologous challenge of 5 cysts or 20 eggs. The reciprocal cross immunity between the heterologous parasites and the failure of protection of homologous challenges are discussed in relation to light infections.

The teleost stomach, as a site of strong acid proteolytic digestion at pH 1–4, is a hostile environment rarely chosen as a habitat by parasites. Several Hemiuroidea have nevertheless invaded this niche, notably the Hemiuridae, a family in which the body is characterized by a retractile “tail”, or ecsoma. The structure and function of the latter has been studied in three hemiurid species, namely Hemiurus communis, Lecithochirium rufoviride and L. fusiforme, using ultrastructural, histochemical and autoradiographic techniques. Results indicate a clear demarcation between the function of the tegument covering the ecsoma and that of the rest of the body, or soma. No mitochondria have been observed in the ecsomal tegument, and intense acid phosphatase activity was detected in association with its outer plasma membrane. Uptake of 3H-tyrosine occurred within the excretory vesicle, which may serve for transport of nutrients forwards into the soma. In contrast, the thickened, dense somal tegument, with few mitochondria largely confined to ridges or plications in H. communis, showed neither phosphatase activity nor uptake of tyrosine. Glucose uptake was not detected in any part of the body. That the somal tegument serves not for absorption but for protection against both physico-chemical conditions and mechanical damage by prey entering the host's stomach is discussed.