The Immunological Response of South African Bulinus Natalensis Antigens to Diploid and Polyploid Bulinus Antisera

Abstract

Foot muscle antigens of the diploid Bulinus natalensis from Lake Sibayi showed complete immunological correspondence with antiserum prepared from foot muscle tissues of the diploid B. tropicus. On the other hand, strong “non-identity” reactions occurred when B. natalensis antigens were tested with the antiserum prepared from foot muscle of the tetraploid B. coulboisi. It is therefore concluded that B. natalensis is indeed a member of the “tropicusspecies group”, as its chromosome number would imply, and not a diploid member of the more northern polyploid “truncatus species group”, as several morphological characters might suggest.