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The adaptation of three isolates of Babesia divergens to continuous culture in rat erythrocytes

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 April 2009

N. Ben Musa
Affiliation:
Wellcome Laboratories for Experimental Parasitology, Bearsden Road, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G61 1QH
R. S. Phillips
Affiliation:
Wellcome Laboratories for Experimental Parasitology, Bearsden Road, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G61 1QH

Abstract

Three isolates of Babesia divergens have been cultured continuously for 6 months in rat erythrocytes using the candle jar technique (Trager & Jensen, 1976). One isolate was already rat-adapted, the other two became adapted to rats through continuous culture in rat erythrocytes. Parasites were cultured in rat erythrocytes in RPMI medium supplemented with 20% foetal calf serum. The highest parasitaemia obtained was 35% and multiparasitization of red blood cells was often observed. Cultures of B. divergens remained infective to splenectomized rats. Cultures with high parasitaemias contained a large number of extracellular merozoites. When separated from the red blood cells, these extracellular merozoites retained their infectivity.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1991

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