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 ([35S] methionine, [3H] leucine) covered a wide range of molecular weights, whereas labelling with [3H] 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.