Characterization of Chabertia ovina by isoenzyme gel electrophoresis: comparative study with Oesophagostomum venulosum

The glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD, EC.1.1.1.49), glucose phosphat e isomerase (GPI, EC.5.3.1.9), and malate dehydrogenase (MDH, EC.1.1.1.37) isoenzymatic patterns of Chabertia ovina were determined by starch-gel elec trophoresis. The G6PD and GPI isoenzymatic patterns were characterized by t he existence of three phenotypes: (I) a single and slow anodic band, (2) a single and fast anodic band, and (3) a large spot matching its migration wi th bands 1 and 2. These three phenotypes may be explained as the existence of only one gene locus for the G6PD and GPI in C. ovina. Allelic frequencie s and the Hardy-Weinberg lest were determined. This test indicated that the population was not in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The MDH isoenzymatic pat tern of C. ovina was characterized by the presence of two bands with anodic and cathodic migration, Furthermore, comparative isoenzyme studies were ca rried out between Oesophagostomum venulosum and C. ovina. The different G6P D, GPT, and MDH isoenzymatic patterns observed for the two species allowed us to distinguish them and, therefore, to use isoenzymatic patterns as a di agnostic tool to discriminate these species.