Comparison of protein profile of co-existing Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica parasite in Bos taurus (cattle) and Bubalus bubalis (Philippine water buffalo)

• Main Authors: De Vera, M. E., Sato, K., Oyong, Glenn G., Claveria, Florencia G.
• Format: text
• Published: Animo Repository 2009
• Subjects: Fasciola; Fasciola hepatica; Cattle—Parasites; Water buffalo—Parasites; Proteins; Biology
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/faculty_research/8598
• Institution: De La Salle University

Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica habitually co-exist as parasites of cattle (Bos taurus) and water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis), and despite variation in their morphometry, their species status is suspicious. Liver flukes isolated from cattle and water buffalo were initially sorted as F. gigantica or F. hepatica, and crude proteins were extracted and subjected to SDS-PAGE. Cattle had the preponderance of F. gigantica, while F. hepatica was the dominant species in water buffaloes. Co-existing cattle and bubaline fasciolids revealed similar protein profile suggestive of a close genetic relationship. The distinct heavy bands shared by co-existing bubaline F. hepatica and F. gigantica relative to those detected in cattle fasciolids suggests a host species-related influence. Between cattle and bubaline F. hepatica, six bands (220kDa, 150kDa, 115kDa, 67kDa, 34-37kDa, 30kDa) were bubaline-specific; between cattle and bubaline F. gigantica, four bands (212kDa, 150kDa, 70kDa, 30kDa) were bubaline-specific, while only three bands were shared (150kDa, 67-70kDa, 30kDa) by bubaline F. hepatica and F. gigantica. Current molecular findings represent the first in the country, where fascioliasia is prevalent. Confirmation of these results entails protein profiling of extracts of freshly-collected individual worms alongside extracts of infected and non-infected liver tissue samples, to mark out host-derived proteins. Its surveillance in susceptible host species in farms around the country, jointly with analysis of morphological and morphometric data of co-existing fasciolid species is highly recommended.