Enzyme markers to identify and characterize Opisthorchis viverrini in Thailand and Lao PDR.

ABSTRACT

We conducted an allozyme electrophoretic study to explore potential enzyme markers to distinguish Opisthorchis viverrini in Thailand and Lao PDR. Twenty-eight enzymes encoding presumptive 32 loci were established. The enzymes glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and pyruvate kinase were diagnostic between two geographically separate isolates from Thailand. Twelve enzymes, ie, aconitate hydratase, aldolase, creatine kinase, enolase, esterases, fumarate hydratase, aspartate aminotransferase, glucose-phosphate isomerase, alanine aminotransferase, isocitrate dehydrogenase, malic enzyme, and pyruvate kinase, also provided diagnostic markers for these two isolates from Thailand and one isolate from Lao PDR.