Activity of antioxidant enzymes in excretory-secretory fluid and somatic extracts of Fasciola gigantica

Excretory-secretory fluid (ESF) and somatic extract (SE) of Fasciola gigantica were tested for the evidence of anti-oxidant enzymes' activity that may account for resistance of the parasite to oxidative stress induced by the host cellular immune response. The results indicated the presence of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in Fasciola gigantica-ESF and Fasciola. gigantica-SE but no catalase activity in Fasciola gigantica-ESF or Fasciola gigantica-SE. SOD activity seems to have role in protecting the F. gigantica from ROS generated by metabolic process involving O₂ and protection from ROS released by host immune effector cells.