Serum factors inRaja radiatatoxic toAcanthobothrium quadripartitum(Cesoda: Tetraphyllidea), a parasite specific toR. naevus

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Abstract
Acanthobothrium quadripartitum, a tapeworm parasitic in the intestine ofRaja naevus, is not found in the closely relatedR. radiata. The tapeworm survivesin vitrofor over 24 h in fresh serum from the natural host, but fresh serum fromR. radiatais extremely toxic; about 80% are killed within 2 h with the formation of a characteristic external precipitate. The toxicity of freshR. radiataserum was abolished by procedures known to inactivate complement and restored by the addition of fresh serum from the natural hostR. naevus. This observation suggests that both species of ray possess a similar complement system in fresh serum but onlyR. radiatacontains a natural serum antibody toxic toA. quadripartitum. No toxicity could be demonstrated inR. radiatamucousin vitro, probably due to the serum factors being present in low concentrations.The results are discussed in relation to the observed inability ofA. quadripartitumto survive in the intestine ofR. radiata.