Preparation of Tissue Cultures From the Tick Hyalomma Dromedarii Koch

Abstract

A method is described for growing cell cultures, suitable for the cultivation of virus and rickettsia, from the tissues of the tick, Hyalomma dromedarii Koch. The nutrient medium consists of Eagle's medium for HeLa cells and Vago & Chastang's medium in ratio 2:1, plus 0.1% of a fraction from dried calf serum. The cultures are incubated at 26–29°C, with pH adjusted to 6.5–6.7. The cells, mostly of fibroblast type, grow well and within 3–5 days a monolayer of cells is established. Mitotic figures are visible up to at least the 10th day.