Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the differentiation of Taenia (cestoda) by total protein

Bursey C. C., Mckenzie J. A. & Burt M. D. B. 1980. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the differentiation of Taenia (Cestoda) by total protein. International Journal for Parasitology10: 167–174, Step-gradient polyacrylamide gels were used to examine total protein in 3 taeniid species. Preliminary investigations revealed that band patterns of different parts of the taeniid strobila were basically identical; hence, individual worms were useful for analysis regardless of their state of development when collected. Using Hymenolepis diminula as a control, the band pattern for each of Taenia taeniaeformis, T. macrocystis and T. pisiformis was found to be species specific with marked differences. The procedure was adapted for use under the more adverse conditions present in field laboratories. Small quantities of tapeworm material used in analysis also allows specific differentiation of single proglottids of Taenia spontaneously expelled from live hosts.