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  • The Internet Journal of Tropical Medicine
  • Volume 2
  • Number 2

Original Article

Feasibility Of Using Orange Juice For Digestion Of Swamp Eel Viscera For Harvesting Infective Stage Larva Of Gnathostoma Spp.

P Kue-A-Pai, V Wiwanitkit

Keywords

gnathostomiasis, pepsin, pineapple juice

Citation

P Kue-A-Pai, V Wiwanitkit. Feasibility Of Using Orange Juice For Digestion Of Swamp Eel Viscera For Harvesting Infective Stage Larva Of Gnathostoma Spp.. The Internet Journal of Tropical Medicine. 2004 Volume 2 Number 2.

Abstract

Gnathostoma spinigerum third stage larvae antigen is necessary for Western blot analysis in the diagnosis of Gnathostomiasis. Acid pepsin solution is required for digestion of eel's liver( Fluta alba ) to yield the larvae for antigen preparation. Here, he reported the feasibility of using orange juice as an alternative to enzyme pepsin in harvesting Gnathostoma spinigerum third stage larvae. From the experimental digestion, it was found that we could recover larvae from orange juice. Thus, orange juice might be another choice for recovering Gnathostoma spinigerum third stage larvae.

 

Introduction

In Thailand Gnathostoma spinigerum is the major causative agent of human gnathostomiasis 1,2. The disease has also been reported in Japan, China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Israel, and other areas where raw or pickled fishes are consumed 3,4,5. Clinical manifestations of human gnathostomiasis are resulted from migration of immature larvae (L3s) and presented as painful pruritic swelling known as cuteneous larva migran. In addition, migration into internal organs (visceral larva migrans) can result in more severe manifestations including death. In the latter case, the diagnosis should be made as soon as possible.

According to the recent economical crisis in Thailand, an alternative substance that can be used in stead of acid pepsin is of interest. Many natural products are tested. Recently, Prawang et al 6 proposed the use of pineapple juice as an alternative digestive agent for harvesting metacercaria of Opisthorchis viverrini from fishes. Here, we tested another fruit, orange, which has been known to have enzymes with proteolytic effects 7 for this purpose. The feasibility of using orange juice for digestion of swamp eel viscera for harvesting infective stage larva of Gnathostoma spp was studied and we found that the orange can be another good alternative to acid pepsin.

Materials and Methods

A) Preparation of orange jucie

The oranges were purchased from a local market in Bangkok. The crude green orange juice was prepared as local cooking method.

B) Digestion of swamp eel viscera

All eel livers were separated from other viscera and washed with tap water. The part of eel's liver was digested by the prepared orange juice in the same fashion as done in pepsin digestion. Digestion was performed in a water bath as mentioned earlier, Gnathostoma L3 s were identified and counted by stereomicroscopy.

Results

From the experimental digestion, it was found that we could recover larvae from orange juice. The digestion is similar to those performed by pepsin digestion in our laboratory.

Discussion

Presently, Western blot analysis, which antigen from parasite third stage larvae is required, is used as gold standard 8. For this process, antigen preparation following acid pepsin digestion is required8. However, acid pepsin is expensive and seems not affordable for many laboratory settings in the developing countries including Thailand.

In this study, the freshly prepared green orange juice (crude) and 1.5 % acid pepsin solution could yield third stage larvae. That means the extract can be effectively used for digestion of swamp eel viscera, similar to that of acid pepsin solution. This unique quality of orange makes it an excellent natural meat tenderizer (Thai cuisine name: Som) This study can assure that crude green orange juice can be alternative to acid pepsin for the recovery of third stage larvae of G. spinigerum. Interestingly, the green orange juice confers several advantages such as all year round availability, easy and inexpensive preparation and non-toxic. Although this work is simple it remains originality, no previous experiment on this topic was reported. In addition, this new digestive technique can be useful for the practitioners in the developing countries with limited resource.

References

1. Daengsvang S : Gnathostomiasis in Southeast Asia. Southeast Asian J Trop Med Pub Hlth. 1981; 12: 319-32
2. Daengsvang S. A monograph on the Genus Gnathostoma and Gnathostomiasis in Thailand. Southeast Asian Medical Information Center, International Medical Foundation of Japan, Tokyo, 1980; p 1-85Kelly GS, Bromelain: A literature review and discussion of its therapeutic applications. Alt Med Rev 1996;1:243-57
3. Ando K, Tanaka H, Taniguchi Y et al. Two human cases of gnathostomiasis and discovery of a second intermediate host of Gnathostoma nipponicum in Japan. J Parasitol 1998; 74: 623-7
4. Akahane H, Lamothe-Argumedo R, Martinez-Cruz JM, et al. Amorphological observation of the advanced third -stage larvae of Gnathostoma. Jpn J Parasitol 1994; 43: 18-22
5. Rojekittikhun W, Pubampen S, Hiranyachattada P, et al. A survey on the infective larvae of Gnathostoma spinigerum in fresh water fish sold in the local markets of Bangkok. J Trop Med Parasitol 1998; 12: 7-12
6. Prawang T, Sukontason K, Sukontason KL, Choochote W, Piangjai S. Pineapple juice as agent for the digestion of fish prior to the harvesting metacercariae. Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health 2002; 33 (Suppl3): 99 - 102
7. Beauty Deals. Compare and Save on Beauty Products. Available at http-:// www. Beautydeals.net/shop/details.html?id=2148
8. Tapchaisri P, Nopparatana C, Chaicumpa W, Setasuban P, : Specific antigen of Gnathostoma spinigerum for immunodiagnosis of human gnathostomiasis. Int J Parasitol 1991; 21: 315-9

Author Information

Pongsatorn Kue-A-Pai
Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hopsital, Mahidol University

Viroj Wiwanitkit
Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University

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