Biochemical composition of marine monogenean parasite eggs

© 2017 This study on the eggs of the tropical monogenean Neobenedenia girellae presents the first detailed quantitative biochemical information of a marine parasite species’ eggs. Moisture and protein composed the majority of the contents of freshly laid eggs (79.12 ± 0.82 and 11.51 ± 0.49% respectively) followed by lipid (2.50 ± 0.15%). Lipids were composed of approximately equal amounts of saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fatty acids and the predominant lipid class was triacylglycerol (33.82 ± 1.20%). This study represents a fundamental step towards a better understanding of the early life biology of this important species of parasite.