Comparative studies on the antigenic structures of five subspecies of Oncomelania snails by immunoelectrophoresis.

ABSTRACT

To approach the biochemical relationships of five subspecies of Oncomelania snails, antigenic structures among the subspecies were compared using immunoelectrophoresis. The results obtained are summarized as follows 1) For five subspecies of Oncomelania hupensis snails (Oncomelania hupensis hupensis, O.h.nosophora, O.h. formosana, O.h. chiui and O.h. quadrasi), 23-24 precipitin bands were observed between the antigens and their homologous antisera, while 18-22 bands were observed in the heterologous reactions. 2) For each subspecies, residual bands observed after absorption procedure demonstrated the presence of antigens unique to each subspecies except O.h. chiui. Based on the immunological antigenic structures among the Oncomelania subspecies, it is suggested that O.h. nosophora and O.h. hupensis forms are closely related group, while O.h. formosana, O.h. chiui and O.h. quadrasi forms are another group.