ABSTRACT: Carbohydrates and protein glycoconjugates on the cell membranes of Cryptobia salmositica, C. bullocki and C. catostomi were analyzed using 13 highly purified lectins (unlabelled or digoxigenin/biotin labelled). No agglutinations were observed with C. salmositica, C. bullocki and C. catostomi using lectin TPA (Tetragonolobus purpureas agglutinin, for a-L-fucose). C. salmositica was agglutinated by 3 of 12 lectins [Con A, for a-man and a-D-glc; PSA, for a-man; PWM, for (glcNAc)3], while C. bullocki was agglutinated by 8 lectins and C. catostomi was agglutinated by 10 lectins. Glycoconjugate analysis with digoxigenin or biotin labelled lectins showed a species-specific staining pattern in pathogenic and nonpathogenic Cryptobia spp. The nonpathogenic C. catostomi had the strongest reaction. These results indicate that the surface carbohydrate residues and glycoconjugate compositions on Cryptobia spp. are different between species; they may be related to the virulence of the parasite.

KEY WORDS: Cryptobia salmositica · C. bullocki · C. catostomi · Surface carbohydrates · Glycoconjugates · Fish · Haemoflagellates

Published in DAO Vol. 32, No. 3 (1998) on April 3
ISSN: 0177-5103. Copyright © Inter-Research, Oldendorf/Luhe, 1998