Histochemical tests indicate the presence of tanning precursors namely protein, phenols and phenolase in the vitelline glands of the temnocephalid Paracaridinicola platei. This suggests the occurrence of a tanned egg shell in this organism, a feature it shares with many other parasitic and free living platyhelminths. The large eggs are laid singly and are attached to the gill lamellae of the host.

This paper describes the first localization study of the 14·7 kDa fatty acid-binding protein in Schistosoma japonicum (Sj-FABPc) using transmission electron microscopy. A polyclonal antibody raised against recombinant Sj-FABPc was used in combination with a colloidal gold marker to determine the distribution of the protein within adult parasites. Sj-FABPc was localized within lipid droplets below the subtegumental region of the male parasite. Additionally, Sj-FABPc was present in the vitelline droplets of the vitelline glands of female parasites. There were no detectable levels of Sj-FABPc on the surface or within the tegument of male or female parasites. Possible functions of Sj-FABPc within S. japonicum and the relevance of these immunolocalization findings in light of the recent reports that the homologue Sm-FABPc is an important anti-S. mansoni vaccine target molecule are also discussed.