Comparative Evaluation of Somatic Proteins of the Nymphal Stage of Linguatula Serrata Isolated from Goats and Cattle in Northwest Iran

Because the nymphal stages of L. serrata isolated from different animals have different strains, it was assumed that their somatic proteins would be different. The present study was conducted to evaluate and characterise the somatic proteins of L. serrata nymphs, isolated from goats and cattle mesenteric lymph nodes. Nymphs were collected from the infected mesenteric lymph nodes of slaughtered cattle and goats. Somatic proteins were prepared by homogenising nymphs and then were electrophoresed using SDS-PAGE. Following SDS-PAGE, somatic proteins of the nymphal stage of L. serrata in our samples were characterised by the presence of 6 protein bands with molecular weights of 14.4, 32, 36, 48, 75 and 100 kDa in goats and 7 protein bands with molecular weights of 14.4, 32, 36, 48, 75, 100 and 120 kDa in cattle. The evaluation of somatic proteins showed slight differences in the mesenteric lymph nodes of goats and cattle. The findings of this study can be used both for further evaluation of their antigenicity for diagnostic purposes and for development of protective vaccines.