ONCHOCERCA-VOLVULUS - IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL AND IMMUNOELECTRON MICROSCOPIC DISTRIBUTION OF A POLYAMINE OXIDIZING ENZYME

We studied the distribution of a polyamine oxidizing enzyme (PAO) in O nchocerca volvulus and other nematode parasites by immunohistochemistr y and electron microscopy with immunogold technique using a polyclonal antiserum raised against purified PAO from Ascaris suum. In adult O. volvulus the protein was localized in the outer zone and the area of t he basal labyrinth of the hypodermis and occasionally in the outer zon e of the uterine epithelium. Further, the fluid in the body cavity was strongly stained. No specific labelling was observed in the cuticle, muscles, epithelia of intestine, ovaries, testis and vas deferens or i n sperm, oocytes and embryos. Third-stage larvae of O. volvulus in Sim ulium soubrense showed strong staining; the same was observed in Anisa kis sp. larvae, where the inner and outer zone of the hypodermis were strongly labelled. All mature, intact and dead microfilariae in nodule s, skin and lymph nodes were well stained and it was possible to show that the cytoplasm of the hypodermal cells, but not the mitochondria, nuclei or other organelles of muscle cells, was preferentially labelle d by immunogold particles. Investigation of adult A. suum presented sp ecific labelling of the hypodermis, but the basal labyrinth was more s trongly marked than the outer zone.