title: Continuous in vitro cultivation of Babesia gibsoni.
abstract: Two stocks of the protozoan parasite Babesia gibsoni, one of the causative agents of canine piroplasmosis, were propagated continuously in dog erythrocytes in microaerophilous stationary-phase culture. Cultures of both stocks were initiated in a humidified 5% CO2, 2% O2, 93% N2 atmosphere at 37 degrees C at a time when very few parasites (<0.01%) were detected in a thin blood smear. Cultures of one stock were also initiated in a humidified atmosphere of 5% CO2 in air at 37 degrees C during a patent parasitaemia (2.6%) in the donor animal. The culture medium was a modified HL-1 medium supplemented with dog serum, L-glutamine and antibiotics. Culture-derived parasites were cryopreserved and resuscitated. Cultures of each stock were propagated for 102 days and 51 days, respectively, before they were terminated.
authors.affiliation: Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute, Parasitology Division, South Africa. erich@moon.ovi.ac.za
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zweygarth
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Lopez-Rebollar
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001403:Babesia / Q000254:growth & development*; D001404:Babesiosis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary; D003470:Culture Media; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000469:parasitology; D004285:Dogs; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000469:parasitology*; D010274:Parasitology / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media