Studies on the energy reserve of Fasciola gigantica (COBB.) from Nigerian zebu cattle. II. The fatty acid composition.

The fatty acids were studied of the total lipid extracts of mature liver flukes Fasciola gigantica from the bile ducts of Nigerian zebu cattle. The high content of saturated fatty acids, which amounted to more than 54% of the total fatty acids, conferred a high level of saturation on these parasites. This was brought about by a general increase in the values of palmitic acid. The results are discussed in connection with the parasite-host relationship.