Ribonucleotide levels in six nematodes, a cestode and a trematode

The levels of ribonucleotides in the nematodes Haemonchus contortus, Ostertagia circumcincta, Trichostrongylus colubriformis, Nippostrongylus brasiliensis, Ascaris suum and Stephanurus dentatus, the cestode Moniezia expansa and the trematode Fasciola hepatica were measured by high pressure liquid chromatography. The adenylate charge, ATP and total adenine nucleotide levels were in general agreement with those determined enzymatically and with published data. UDP and guanine nucleotide levels were found to be higher than those present in mammals and previously reported for helminth parasites. Cytidine nucleotide levels varied considerably between parasite species. On the other hand inosine nucleotides were present at low concentrations in all species. Adenylate and guanylate charges were similar.