The concentration of cercariae of Schistosoma mansoni for the preparation of cercarial antigen

Abstract

A method is presented which takes advantage of the positive thermotropic and phototropic activity of the organisms as well as of their negative geotropism, in separating them from snail detritus. This separation is followed by rapid filtration which leaves a residue of living cercariae. This residue is then killed by desiccation and can be stored on the filter pads in sterile bottles for future extraction of antigenic fractions.