title: A procedure for isolating and freezing metacyclic Trypanosoma brucei gambiense forms in the field.
abstract: An adaptation of a modified procedure using anion-exchange centrifugation was evaluated to isolate and freeze in field conditions a high number of bloodstream forms of Trypanosoma brucei gambiense for direct in vitro culture. Pellets of trypanosomes were obtained from 62 patients in Central Africa. The presence of trypanosomes was detected in all 62 eluates. The isolation system was efficient. Preliminary results of in vitro culture of 10 thawed samples of trypanosomes were highly promising because no fungal or bacterial contamination was noticed even after 2 weeks of culture.
authors.affiliation: Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, UR35 "Trypanosomoses Africaines", OCEAC, POB 288, Yaounde, Cameroon. truc@iccnet.cm, truc@ird.fr
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Truc
authors.forename: C Lekane
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Likeufack
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mbongo
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ebo'o Enyenga
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002498:Centrifugation / Q000379:methods*; D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods; D014347:Trypanosoma brucei gambiense / Q000302:isolation & purification*