Biosynthetic radiolabelling of excretions-secretions of adult male Onchocerca gibsoni

Maintenance of adult male worms of the bovine filarial parasite Onchocerca gibsoni in vitro , in the presence of radioactive precursors, resulted in the time-dependent excretion-secretion of radiolabelled parasite macromolecules (ES). Molecules labelled with amino acids ([ 35 S] methionine, pH] leucine) covered a wide range of molecular weights, whereas labelling with [ 3 H] glucosamine produced predominantly molecules of high molecular weight. Many of the products were recognized by antibodies in two serum pools from humans infected with Onchocerca volvulus . O. gibsoni ES may therefore provide a substitute source of material for studies on the ES of the less readily available human parasite.