title: In vitro cultivation of a Babesia sp. from cattle in South Africa.
abstract: A South African Babesia sp. of cattle which is as yet unclassified, was continuously cultivated in micro-aerophilous stationary-phase culture. The parasites were resuscitated from a blood stabilate stored in liquid nitrogen. A modified HL-1 medium supplemented with either horse or bovine serum was used. Cultures were initiated in a humidified atmosphere containing 2% O2, 5% CO2 and 93% N2 at 37 degrees C. Parasites were detected on Giemsa-stained smears after 2 d in culture. On day 4, the cultures were split at a ratio of 1:2 (v/v) and transferred into a humidified atmosphere of 5% CO2 in air. Starting from day 6, subcultures were made daily at a ratio of 1:4 (v/v). The percentage of parasitized erythrocytes ranged from 2-5%. Addition of purine bases (hypoxanthine, adenine, adenosine or guanosine) was essential for the continuous propagation of the parasites when bovine, but not horse serum, was used for medium supplementation.
authors.affiliation: Protozoology Division, Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute, South Africa.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zweygarth
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Van Niekerk
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Just
authors.forename: D T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: De Waal
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001403:Babesia / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001404:Babesiosis / Q000469:parasitology; D002417:Cattle / Q000469:parasitology*; D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000662:veterinary; D003470:Culture Media; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000469:parasitology; D013019:South Africa
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media