Comparative studies on the lipid composition of some digenetic trematodes.

&straet-YusuFr A. N. K. & SIDDIQI A. H. 1976. Comparative studies on the lipid composition of some digenetic trematodes. International Journczt for Parasitology 6: 5-8. Neutral lipids and phospholipids of six digenetic trematodes, C~ty/oph#ron c~ty/~phurum, Gastrothytax crumenifer and Gigantocuty~e expl~~tum from water buffalo, Echjnffstom~ rn~Iay~nurn and Fas~iotopsis buski from pig and Zs~purorcbjs hypseZffb~gr~ from cat-fish were analyzed. Total lipid concentrations in trematodes varied considerably irrespective of their hosts and habitats. While triglycerides were the major components in all species, considerable amounts of phospholipids and free fatty acids were present in al1 species. Cholesterol was minimum (4-9 %) in more or less all species, except in F. buski, where cholesterol, phospholipids and triglycerides constituted 13-14x and free fatty acids around 7%. Among phospholipids, choline and ethanolamine phosphatides were major polar lipids. Sphingomyelin and cardiolipin were present as small fractions and lysophosphatidylcholine was evenly distributed among all the species (9-12x) except in F. huski, which contained a little higher content (15%).