[The Bothriocephalus scorpii complex (Mueller, 1776). Differentiation of species of parasites of the turbot (Psetta maxima) and the brill (Scophthalmus rhombus). Study of protein fractions and antigen complexes]

Abstract

Previous electrophoretic studies (Renaud et al., 1983) carried out on the Cestode Bothriocephalus scorpii (Mueller, 1776) showed that the populations parasiting the Turbot and the Brill on the Mediterranean coast, are two distinct species: Bothriocephalus (supra sp. scorpii) gregarius and Bothricephalus (supra sp. scorpii) barbatus respectively. This work has been done with the purpose of identifying these two species by using biochemical tests. The study of whole body proteins by electrophoresis of zones of acrylamide gel shows the existence of nineteen distinct protein fractions in both populations. Among those different protein fractions, two of them (Rf 53 and Rf 87) are present only in the Cestode of the Brill and one (Rf 42) seems to be specific of the Turbot. On the other hand, the fraction of Rf 27 is present only in the Cestodes of the Brill. The immunoelectrophoretic study of antigenic components shows seven or eight major fractions depending on the source of protein, five of them being common to both. The reactions of absorption of antiserum permitted characterization of three arcs of precipitation proper in the Cestodes of the Brill corresponding to protein fractions of Rf (27, 53, 87) and three arcs in the Cestodes of the Turbot, corresponding to protein fractions of Rf (42, 21, 66).