Cultivation of Plasmodium falciparum using animal serum (horse, calf and bovine) as human serum substitute.
Horse, calf and bovine serum were successfully used as human serum substitutes in the in vitro cultivation of Plasmodium falciparum. Positive results were obtained only after gradually adapting the parasites to the substitute serum. Adapted lines were established within 4-5 weeks. 10% horse serum was observed to be the best substitute with growth rates comparable or even surprising that obtained in human serum. Pure calf or bovine serum supported stable growths of 20-30% less which was enhanced to comparable levels after addition of 1% glucose-peptone to the medium. Direct transfers of adapted cultures to human serum showed enhanced growth rates. Lower growth rates of adapted cultures (i.e. horse serum-adapted cultures) in other substitute sera (i.e. calf or bovine sera) were improved in subsequent subcultures. Similarly, there were no adverse effects when they were returned back to the substitute serum they were originally adapted to.
D000818:Animals; D001769:Blood; D002417:Cattle / Q000097:blood; D003470:Culture Media; D006736:Horses / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000254:growth & development*
D003470:Culture Media