ROLE OF PROTEIN AND TRANSAMINASES IN THE GROWTH AND DIFFERENTIATION OF AVITELLINA LAHOREA (WOODLAND, 1927)

Avitellina lahorea (Woodland, 1927), the cestodeparasite is frequently present in the small intestine of sheep (Ovis aries). The results on the protein profile in A lahorea revealed that the total protein, the TCA soluble and insoluble fraction remained significantly higher in the immature regions than the mature and gravid proglottid regions. The total protein of host serum level remained significantly higher to all the regions of the parasite. The higher concentrations of these proteins in the host serum also imply that the host maintained the osmotic stability by virtue of these proteins. It also indicated the balance between the parasite and the host tissue osmotic concentration, which is vital for the existence of the above biotic relationship. Electrophoretic studies revealed the presence of low molecular weight protein fractions and their variability could be ascribed to the development and differentiation of progressively changing profiles of the morphogenetic segments. The presence of high molecular weight fractions could be ascribed to the parasite's immunity inside the host niche, as such fractions are attributed with the immune functions generally. The activity of GOT and GPT showed an increase concurrent to the growth of the parasite in the immature, mature and gravid regions.