A comparison of superoxide dismutase (SOD, EC:1.15.1.1) distribution in gastro-intestinal nematodes

An examination of the distribution of superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities in whole worm homogenates from six gastro-intestinal nematodes, at different life-cycle stages, demonstrated that the third larval stages of each species contained notably more activity than the corresponding adults. Significant SOD activities were detected in culture fluids following in vitro maintenance of third and fourth larval stage and adult Trichostrongylus vitrinus and Teladorsagia circumcincta (formerly Ostertagia circumcincta). Marked interspecies variation was observed when SOD isoenzyme profiles of adult and third larval stage Nippostrongylus brasiliensis, Trichostrongylus vitrinus, Teladorsagia circumcincta and Haemonchus contortus were compared. In addition, SOD activity and isoenzyme polymorphism were greater in Nippostrongylus brasiliensis harvested from primed rats compared to parasites recovered from naive rats.