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Title: ISOELECTRIC FOCUSING OF SOLUABLE PROTEINS IN THE CHARACTERIZATION OF SPECIES AND ISOLATES OF NEMATODIRUS (NEMATODA: TRICHOSTRONGYLOIDEA)

Author
item RICKARD, LORA - MISS STAT UNIV, MISS
item Hoberg, Eric
item MULROONEY, DONNA - OREGON ST UNIV, OREGON
item ZIMMERMAN, GARY - ZIMMERMAN RES., MONTANA

Submitted to: Journal of Parasitology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/17/1997
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Rapid and accurate methods for identification of adult nematodes dramatically improve our abilities for diagnoses of infections in domestic ruminants. We used an electrophoretic method, isoelectric focusing, to provide the basis for identification of species of Nematodirus, a group which includes species of pathogenic nematodes in ruminants. It was possible to accurately identify N. battus, N. helvetianus, N. spathiger, and N. fillicolis using this technique. We also examined the relationships of populations of N. battus, the most pathogenic nematode known from sheep, and the putative history of recent introduction into the United States. IEF was found to be a rapid and accurate method for identification of the major species of Nematodirus from domestic ruminants in North America.

Technical Abstract: lsoelectric focusing was performed on extracts from Nematodirus spathiger, Nematodirus filicollis, Nematodirus helvetianus, and 3 geographic isolates of Nematodirus battus. Gender specific differences were noted within species; however, the overall protein profile of each species and isolate was distinct and reproducible and allowed unequivocal differentiation. A coefficient of similarity (Sm) for males of each species and isolate was calculated and a dendrogram, based on evaluation of Sm by the unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic means, was produced. Based on Sm, each species and isolate of N. battus was discrete. The relationships for similarity among isolates of N. battus supported recognition of a recent history of introduction of this nematode into North America.