The identification of some Onchocerca spp of cattle by isoenzyme analysis

The isoenzyme patterns of LDH, MDH, PEP, PGM, MPI, GPI and GAPDH were compared for 3 species of cattle parasites Onchocerca gutturosa, O. gibsoni and O. lienalis from England, Australia and Mexico. LDH and GAPDH had identical patterns in each species but the other enzymes clearly distinguished between the species. PGM was the same in O. lienalis and O. gibsoni, but separated them from O. gutturosa. MPI and GPI had similar isoenzymes in O. gutturosa and O. gibsoni, but distinguished them from O. lienalis. Different isoenzyme patterns for all 3 species were obtained with MDH and PEP. The potential use of these techniques towards a better understanding of the epidemiology of human onchocerciasis is discussed.