G. Borgonie et al., IN-VIVO AND IN-VITRO CHARACTERIZATION OF THE INTESTINE OF 15 BACTERIOPHAGOUS NEMATODES (NEMATODA, RHABDITIDA), Fundamental and applied nematology, 18(2), 1995, pp. 115-122
The intestine of the fifteen free-living Rhabditida belonging to three
different families was studied using three different approaches : i)
using three different axenic media, cultivation of all fifteen nematod
e species was attempted; ii) in vivo analyses were performed by using
two vital stains and one fluorescent dye and by comparing staining pat
terns; iii) in vitro analyses was done using the intestinal markers ac
id phosphatase, esterase and the lectin of Ricinus communis II. Althou
gh the nematodes can be cultured monoxenically on the same bacterium,
Escherichia coli, attempts to culture the fifteen nematode species on
the same axenic medium failed. Distinct differences are observed betwe
en different areas along the intestinal tract by in vivo study using s
tains. Similar observations were made in vitro using the intestinal ma
rker acid phosphatase and the binding pattern of Ricinus communis II.
This was less evident using esterase as a marker, since considerable n
on-intestinal tissue staining was evident. The data obtained indicate
considerable biochemical differences in the intestinal cells between t
he nematode species, even if the nematode species belong to the same f
amily.