In a previous study, the author developed a method for separation of the tegument of spargana (plerocercoids of Spirometra mansoni) from the parenchyme using urea. The present study, as a next step, was performed to evaluate which molecules are present in the outer tegument. Two major proteins, 180 and 200 kDa, are present in the tegument and we could make polyclonal antibodies against these molecules. Their immunolocalization was processed and the outermost layer of the spargana showed strong positive staining. Conclusively, we could confirm that the 180 and 200 kDa molecules might be tightly bound membrane proteins in the tegument of spargana.

The tegument of tapeworms is known to be composed of an outer syncytial cytoplasm layer which includes microtriches and cytoplasmic organelles (= syncytial layer), and a parenchymatous cytoplasm layer that contains subtegumental cell nuclei (= subtegumental layer) and organelles. In the present study, separation of the syncytial layer of the sparganum, the plerocercoid stage of Spirometra mansoni, was tried using urea as the chemical reagent. Histological sections were prepared to visualize the status of separation after staining with hematoxylin and eosin. The results showed that the syncytial layer of the sparganum tegument which includes microtriches and cytoplasmic organelles were successfully separated from the parenchyma using 3 M urea.