Metabolism of C(14)-glycine by Clonorchis sinensis

Radioactive C(14)-glycine was given to Clonorchis sinensis in Tyrode medium in order to trace the metabolic fate of the labeled carbon. The labeled carbon from glycine enters into every major fraction of Clonorchis sinensis and is highest in the fraction of protein and nucleic acid. Significant amount of C(14)-glycine is incorporated into respiratory carbon dioxide. Relatively high percentage of C(14)-glycine in medium is converted to amino acid fraction and lipid fraction of the worm. In general, glycine is continuously being utilized in the synthesis of proteins and for energy production despite the uptake rate of glycine decreased gradually as incubation proceeds.

Metabolism of C(14)-glucose by Ascaridia galli

The fowl nematode Ascaridia galli employed in this experiment was obtained from the intestine of domestic fowls at the local market. The worms selected and washed several times in normal sterilized saline solution. Each about thirty of intact worms were incubated in 50 cc volume of special incubation flasks with incubation mixture consisting of 10 cc of Krebs-Ringer phosphate buffer (pH 7.4) to which were added universally labeled C14-glucose and non-radioactive carrier glucose so as to contain concentration of 200 mg per cent. The worms were allowed to incubation for 3 hours in Dubnoff metabolic shaking incubator at 38 C. After incubation period, respiratory CO(2) samples from central well of incubation flask were analysed for total CO(2) production rate and their specific activity of respiratory CO(2). Glycogen samples isolated from worms were analysed for uptake rate was determined by analyzing the difference of the glucose concentration in a medium before and after incubation period . Radioactivities of these series of experiments were counted by an endwindow Geiger-Muller counter as an infinitely thin samples. The quantitative analysis of C(14)-glucose utilized by Ascaridia galli was summarized as the following . The glucose uptake rate by A. galli was a mean value of 1.73+/-0.32 micro-mole per hour per gram of wet wt. and total CO(2) production rate by the worms averaged 8.44+/-1.11 micro-mole per hour per gram of wet wt. The relative specific activity of respiratory CO(2) (R.S.A CO(2)) averaged 2.68+/-0.38 per cent . Thus , a man of 2.68 per cent of total CO(2) production rate was originated from the glucose in the medium, therefore the rate of CO(2) production derived from medium glucose was a mean of 0.23+/-0.03 micro-mole per hour per gram of wet wt. Thus, the average value of 2.58+/-0.55 percent (R.G.D CO(2))of glucose utilized by the worms from the medium glucose was oxidized to respiratory CO2. The tissue concentration of glycogen in A. galli was a mean of 22.59+/-1.18 miligram per gram of wet wt or 2.26+/-0.123 percent per gram, and the turnover rate of glycogen pool yielded with a mean of 0.17+/-0.04 percent per hour or 0.037+/-0.006 miligram per hour per gram of wet wt. Therefore, a mean value of 16.37+/-4.04 per cent (R.G.D gly) of glucose was incorporated to the glycogen. These data account for that at least 18.95 per cent of the utilized glucose by the worms participated in furnishing the oxidation into respiratory CO(2) and the synthetic process into glycogen. According to the above data of the experiment, it is suggested in the metabolic process of glucose by Ascaridia galli that the synthetic process into the glycogen is more active than the oxidative process into the respiratory CO(2).

Metabolism of C(14)-glucose by Moniezia expansa and Diphyllobothrium mansoni

The adult worms of cestodes, Moniezia expansa and Diphyllobothrium mansoni employed in this experiment. The worms were divided into three portions, i.e. immature , mature and gravid proglottids, and each proglottids were incubated in a certain incubation period, and the glucose uptake rate, total CO2 production rate, tissue concentration and their radioactivities were employed as previous reports(Rim et al., 1965). The glucose uptake rate by M. expansa was a mean value of 6.46+/-1.23 micromole per hour per gram of wet wt. and the rate by D. mansoni was a mean value of 18.8+/-0.8 micro-mole per hour per gram of wet wt. The higher rates were observed in the mature proglottid of M. expansa and in the immature proglottid of D. mansoni . The total CO(2) production rates by the worms averaged 14.0+/-2.37 micro-mole per hour per gram in M. expansa and 17.51+/-1.54 micro-mole per hour per gram of wet wt. The relative specific activities of respiratory CO(2)(R.S.A CO(2)) averaged 22.2+/-5.15 percent in M. expansa and 54.2+/-2.2 per cent in D. mansoni. In the both worms, the higher values were obtained in the mature proglottids. Therefore, the average value of 8.84+/-2.66 per cent of glucose utilized by M. expansa and 8.23+/-0.50 percent of glucose utilized by D. mansoni from the medium glucose was oxidized into respiratory CO(2). The tissue concentrations of glycogen were a mean of 2.21+/-0.46 percent per gram of wet wt. in M. expansa and 7.56+/-1.24 percent per gram of wet wt. in D. mansoni. The higher concentration of glycogen was observed in the gravid proglottids of M. expansa, however the gravid proglottids of D. mansoni showed lower concentration of glycogen than the other proglottids. The turnover rate of glycogen pool yielded with a mean of 0.04+/-0.01 miligram per hour per gram of wet wt. of M. expansa, whereas a mean of 1.66+/- 0.46 miligram per hour per gram wet wt. of D. mansoni. Therefore, a mean value of 2.58+/-0.93 per cent(R.G.D gly) of glucose utilized by M. expansa and 53.6+/-1.4 percent by D. mansoni was incorproated into the glycogen . These data account for that at least 11.42 per cent of the utilized glucose by M. expansa and 61.83 per cent of the utilized glucose by D. mansoni participated in furnishing the oxidation into respiratory CO2 and the synthetic process into glycogen.

The epidemiological studies on the filariasis in Korea I. Filariasis in Cheju-Do(Quelpart Island)

A night blood survey was carried out among inhabitants aged over 1 year from the fifteen villages throughout Cheju-Do (Quelpart Island). Blood films from 2,139 persons were examined and 183(8.6 percent) showed microfilariae, the incidences varying according to geographical sources are from 0.8 to 19.5 per cent. All the microfilariae found in this survey were of the nocturnal periodic Brugia malayi. The microfilarial density was 1.9 per cent of blood. The age and sex distributions of microfilaria rate in Cheju-Do were not distinctly different. On the other hand, the intradermal test using Dirofilaria antigen (FPT antigen) and clinical survey of filariasis were also undertaken in same areas of microfilaria survey. Out of 2,449 inhabitants examined 1,434(58.6 percent) persons showed positive reaction of skin test, 503(20.5 percent) persons have clinical manifestations and 112 (4.6 percent) persons showed elephantiasis . It is assumed that Aedes togoi may be the most probable vector of B. malayi in the areas of Cheju-Do.