The use of membrane-active compounds to examine the structure of the surface membrane of Schistosoma mansoni.

The effects of a variety of lipophilic compounds on the young stage (schistosomulum) and adult Schistosoma mansoni have been studied by measuring the release of 51Cr and 125I-labelled wheat-germ agglutinin from labelled parasites. The compounds could be classified into three groups, one of which described reagents which affected only the schistosomulum. It is concluded that during development, changes occur in the organization of the lipid phase of the parasite membrane.