PHOSPHATE METABOLITES OF TENEBRIO-MOLITOR (COLEOPTERA, TENEBRIONIDAE) INFECTED WITH METACESTODES OF HYMENOLEPIS-DIMINUTA

In vivo phosphorus-31 nuclear magnetic resonance (P-31 NMR) spectra and those of extracts of Tenebrio molitor L. infected with metacestodes of Hymenolepis diminuta R. showed modifications in the amounts of phosphorus-containing metabolites when compared with those of uninfected beetles. Infected females were more affected than infected males, having significantly more glucose-6-phosphate (Glu-6-P), glycerol-3-phosphate (Gly-3-P), and phosphorylethanolamine (PE), but less inorganic orthophosphate (Pi), glycerophosphorylethanolamine (GPE), gylcerolphosphorylcholine (GPC), phosphoarginine (PAr), and adenosine diphosphate (ADP). Infected males had more Glu-6-P and PE, but less Pi, GPE, and GPC. These changes directly reflected the phosphorylation potential of infected hosts, which increased approximate to 100% and 50% in infected females and males, respectively.