ULTRASTRUCTURAL ANALYSIS OF THE ADULT SCHISTOSOMA-JAPONICUM BY LECTINCYTOCHEMISTRY

Eight lectin probes were used to detect a range of carbohydrate residu es in the tegument matrix of Schistosoma japonicum. In addition, other areas of the parasite, such as the gut, vitelline glands and flame ce lls, were examined Ibr carbohydrate residues. Some minor differences i n the carbohydrate residue composition between tegument orientations a nd between the sexes were identified. Differences between the distribu tion of carbohydrate residues of S. japonicum examined in this study a nd previous reports of Schistosoma mansoni were also noted. This study further illustrates the high level of complexity within the tegument of the adult S. japonicum and has demonstrated differences between thi s species and the widely studied S. mansoni. (C) 1998 Australian Socie ty for Parasitology. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights res erved.