Electrolytes and Metabolites Rich Secretion from Laboratory Grown Larvae of Lucilia sericata

Abstract

Feeding process in biological system involves release of exocrine secretion to modify the pH of the food substrate and the release of protein enzyme for digestion. Digestive secretions contain electrolytes and metabolites of varying nature and source. The aim of this study is to harvest the saprophagous secretion of larvae of Lucilia sericata and to quantitatively as well as qualitatively evaluate the contents. The larvae were grouped and housed in 5 different 200 ml plastic jars, each with a net cover firmly attached round the brim of the jar with elastic band. Each jar contains 300 units of the larvae and they are all kept in a larger bucket whose interior was saturated with the smell of a piece of putrid meat. Half hourly 100ml of Normal Saline was used to wash off the effluent from the larvae of each of the five groups. The analyses show the significantly (p<0.05) increasing and time dependent presence of Na⁺, K⁺, Cl^-, HCO₃^-, urea, creatinine,  total protein,  bilirubin and  amylase secreted.

Keywords: Lucilia sericata, saprophagous, Electrolytes, Metabolites