EFFECTS OF DIET ON THE LIPID-COMPOSITION OF ECHINOSTOMA-CAPRONI (TREMATODA) IN ICR MICE

High-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) was used to determi ne neutral lipids and phospholipids in the intestinal trematode Echino stoma caproni from experimentally infected ICR mice fed a high-fat die t (hen's egg yolk) as compared with worms from mice fed a standard lab oratory diet. Worms were removed from the hosts at 2, 3, and 4 weeks p ostinfection (p.i.). Analysis by TLC-densitometry showed significantly greater amounts of triacylglycerols and free sterols at 2, 3, and 4 w eeks p.i. in worms from mice on the high-fat diet as compared with wor ms from mice on the standard laboratory diet. Significantly greater am ounts of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine were found i n worms from mice on the high-fat diet as compared with worms from tho se on the standard diet at 2 weeks p.i. but not at 3 and 4 weeks p.i. The results of this study suggest that the host diet influences the li pid content of E. caproni adults.