The ageing process in infective larvae of the roundworms Haemonchus contortus and Nippostrongylus brasiliensis: carbohydrate content.

Trehalose, glycogen and traces of glucose were the only anthrone sensitive carbohydrates identifiable. The variation of 13-22% of the dry weight in different populations of Haemonchus contortus L3 is shown to be due to their capacity to synthesize glycogen during ageing. This contrasts with the larvae of Nippostrongylus brasiliensis in which a low level of carbohydrate remains constant with time. It is suggested that H. contortus can convert lipid to carbohydrate as is the case for several other nematodes. H. contortus L3 show some evidence of physiological adaptation.