Changes in antigen and glycoprotein patterns during the development of Oesophagostomum dentatum

During its development from free-living infectious third-stage larvae to the adult worms in the large intestines of pigs, Oesophagostomum dentatum experiences several environmental changes. Differences in protein patterns can reflect such changes. Somatic and ES antigens and glycoproteins of pre-parasitic, histotropic and intestinal stages were compared by single-dimension SDS-PAGE and stage-specific proteins were defined. Furthermore, fourth-stage larvae derived from different sources--in-vitro cultivation and intestinal contents--were compared and also found to be different. It is hypothesised that O. dentatum reacts to environmental stimuli by differential expression of specific proteins as a possible mode of adaptation to the host.