Comparative Analysis of Somatic Protein Profiles of Fasciola hepatica , Fasciola gigantica and Dicrocoelium dendriticum (Three Liver Flukes in Sheep) Using SDS-PAGE

摘要

Animal fasciolosis caused by either one or both the species of Fasciola i’e Fasciola hepatica andFasciola gigantica and dicrocoeliosis caused by Dicrocoelium dendriticum are frequently seen amonglivestock of Kashmir valley (Jammu and Kashmir). In this study, electrophoretic patterns of somatic antigensof F. hepatica, F. gigantica and Dicrocoelium dendriticum by SDS-PAGE (Sodium dodecyl sulphatePolyacrylamide gel electrophoresis), were compared. The adult flukes of these parasites were collected frominfected slaughtered ovine livers and bile ducts. Somatic antigens of these flukes were prepared by incubatingand homogenizing the adult flukes with protein extraction buffer followed by centrifugation. Aftercentrifugation the supernatant was collected and electrophoresed using SDS-PAGE. Following SDS-PAGE,somatic proteins of F. hepatica and F. gigantica were characterized by the presence of 5 common major peptidebands with molecular weights of 16, 23, 27, 33 and 62 kDa. Fasciola hepatica and D. dendriticum werecharacterized by the presence of 3 common bands with molecular weights of 16, 27 and 33, whereas F. giganticaand D. dendriticum were also characterized by the presence of 3 common bands with molecular weights of 16,27 and 33. Fasciola gigantica showed 10 major protein bands with molecular weights of 16, 23, 24, 27, 33, 40,46, 51, 62 and 68 kDa, F. hepatica showed proteins characterized by 7 distinct bands with molecular weightsof 16, 23, 27, 33, 42, 54 and 62 kDa and D. dendriticum showed 6 major bands with molecular weights of 16, 27,33, 44, 55 and 80 kDa. The study could pave an important way in tracing the phylogeny of these parasites andtheir immunodiagnosis. It will also help in devising an effective control strategy including vaccine designingagainst these economically important parasites.