CATTLE SCHISTOSOMIASIS IN ZAMBIA

A total of 358 cattle was examined for schistosome infection in Zambia n slaughterhouses. A total of 542 worms collected from 104 infected in dividuals was examined for glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and phosp hoglucomutase using isoelectric focusing. The overall prevalence of in fection was 51%. Ninety three percent of the infected animals had less than 100 worm pairs in the mesenteric veins. Schistosoma mattheei was the predominant species (75%); S. leiperi (12%) and S. margrebowiei ( 2%) were also identified. The remaining 11% of the worms showed one of two distinct heterozygote patterns. Pattern A is identical to that of a laboratory-produced Fl S. mattheei x S. haematobium hybrid, but cou ld also represent a S. mattheei x S. leiperi hybrid. Further studies a re required to elucidate the origins of pattern B.