Journal of Helminthology

Table of Contents - 2002 - Volume 76, Issue 01  

Cambridge Journals Online - CUP Full-Text Page

Review Article

In vitro culture of tetrathyridia of Mesocestoides corti using a gel based diphasic medium

J. Chernina1 c1, D. Thompsona2 and D. Swainea2



a1 School of Biological Sciences, University of Portsmouth, King Henry Building, Portsmouth, PO1 2DY, Hants, UK

a2 Research and Development, Oxoid Ltd, Wade Road, Basingstoke, RG24 8PW, Hants, UK

Article author query

Chernin J [PubMed]  [Google Scholar]
Thompson D [PubMed]  [Google Scholar]
Swaine D [PubMed]  [Google Scholar]

Abstract

Tetrathyridia of Mesocestoides corti were cultured in vitro in a diphasic medium consisting of a liquid medium (CMRL Sigma) and a thixotropic nutrient gel (Oxoid). Tests demonstrated that a 50% medium/gel mixture produced optimum conditions for the survival and development of tetrathyridia. Established anthelminthic drugs were inoculated into the gel which demonstrated that this system can be used for preliminary anthelminthic drug screening. The development and survival of the tetrathyridia were influenced by the addition of pepsin, trypsin and liver peptone to the culture media. The development and maturation of proglottids were observed in addition to asexual reproduction by the process of budding. Tetrathyridia maintained in vitro and reinfected into both mouse and rat hosts retained their viability.

(Accepted August 17 2001)

Correspondence:

c1 Fax: 0293 92 842070 Email: jack.chernin@port.ac.uk