Uptake of amino acids and glucose by microfilariae of Dirofilaria immitis in vitro.

The uptake of amino acids and glucose by microfilariae of Dirofilaria immitis maintained for 8 days in vitro was studied. The quantity of glutamic acid, histidine, lysine, alanine, tryptophan, and cystine in the medium did not change. Isoleucine, serine, valine, phenylalanine, tyrosine, methionine, and cystathionine decreased slightly; both asparatic acid and leucine decreased considerably. Glutamine, threonine, and proline decreased markedly, while glycine increased to some extent. Ornithine increased and arginine decreased; however, their changes were smaller than the changes of respective amino acids in the control medium free of microfilariae. Glucose decreased markedly.