The Effects of Different Echinostoma caproni Miracidial Doses on the Lutein and Beta-Carotene Content of Biomphalaria Glabrata Snails

The Effects of Different Echinostoma caproni Miracidial Doses on the Lutein and β-Carotene Content of Biomphalaria Glabrata Snails

The effects of 5, 25, and 40 Echinostoma caproni miracidia on the lipophilic pigment content of Biomphalaria glabrata snails was studied using reverse phase high performance thin-layer chromatography-densitometry. Analysis was done on the whole body at two and four weeks post exposure. All extraction and analysis steps were performed in minimal light in order to prevent pigment degradation. The pigments were extracted with acetone, evaporated to dryness, reconstituted using heptane, and analyzed on reverse phase silica gel HPTLC plates with a concentrating zone using a petroleum ether (37.8-53.5oC)-acetonitrile-methanol (1:1:2) mobile phase. The analysis yielded significant differences between the lutein and β-carotene content of the snails at two and four weeks post exposure and between the different miracidial doses.