Specific and non-specific phosphatases in the miracidium of Fasciola hepatica L.

Localization and activities of alkaline phosphatase, ATPase, 5-nucleotidase, glucose-6-phosphatase, thiamine pyrophosphatase and nucleoside diphosphatase were studied in the miracidium of Fasciola hepatica L. Except for nucleoside diphosphatase whose activity in the miracidium was not observed, all the enzymes were most active in the archenteron, protonephridia and nerve ganglion. This localization of the reaction intensity allows the inference that the three organs mentioned are sites of both intense carbohydrate metabolism and lively active transport. The role of phosphatases in carbohydrate metabolism is discussed.