Ascorbic acid levels of trematode parasites of fish and mammalian hosts.

Ascorbic acid levels of seven species of digenetic trematodes, living under different environmental conditions in fish and mammals were determined colorimetrically. Ascorbic acid levels ranged from 0.312 mg/100 g fresh weight in Gastrothylax crumenifer to 5.070 mg/100 g fresh weight in Fasciola indica. Low levels of ascorbic acid were detected in the rumen parasites and in Isoparorchis hypselobagri. In contrast the liver parasites were found to have relatively high ascorbic acid levels.