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SUMMARYThe adult liver fluke, Fasciola hepatica, inhabits the bile duct of its final host, usually cattle or sheep. The veterinary aspects of infection with F. hepatica can represent a major problem and consequently fascioliasis can have serious economic effects. As recently as 1972 the loss in revenue due to liver fluke infestations in the UK was estimated at an incredible £50 million per annum (Coles, 1975). Not only can F. hepatica infect cattle and sheep, but also outbreaks of human disease have been reported. The last serious outbreak in Britain was in 1968 when at least 49 cases were identified (Ashton, Boardman, D'Sa, Everall & Houghton, 1970; Hardman, Jones & Davies, 1970).

SUMMARYNeither phosphagens nor phosphagen phosphotransferase activity could be detected in Fasciola hepatica, Hymenolepis diminuta, Moniezia expansa or in the plerocercoids of Ligula intestinalis. The plerocercoids of Schistocephalus solidus, however, possess an active taurocyamine phosphotransferase, although it too contains no detectable phosphagens. The taurocyamine phosphotransferase of S. solidus has an absolute requirement for a divalent metal ion and ATP could not be replaced by ITP, GTP, CTP, or UTP as the phosphate donor. The role of phosphagens in helminths is discussed.