Ionic composition of the liver fluke Fasciola hepatica from different mammalian hosts and comparison with host bile

A qualitative analysis of the cationic profile of bovine and ovine biles and of bovine, ovine and rat liver flukes has been carried out by DC arc emission spectrography. A quantitative assessment of the concentrations of Na+, K+, Ca2+ and Mg2+ ions in bovine, ovine and rat flukes has been determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The levels of these ions in bovine and ovine bile samples have also been assessed and compared with those of Hédon-Heig saline. The ionic composition of the two biles is similar and the concentration of each ion is greater than that in Hédon-Heig saline. Despite the similarity in biles, ion levels in bovine flukes are generally higher than those in ovine flukes. Ion levels in rat flukes are different again but show closer similarity to those in bovine, not ovine, flukes. The results are discussed in relation to the proposed operation of the osmoregulatory system in the fluke.