In vitro Cultivation of Spirometra mansonoides (Cestoda) from the Procercoid to the Early Adult

Abstract

Spirometra mansonoides has been grown in vitro from the procercoid to the young adult using the methods of Mueller (1959) and Berntzen (1961, 1962, 1964). The process involves scolex differentiation, shedding of the larval body, growth from 0.1 mm to 64 mm in length, and segmentation to form the strobila. Successful cultures had a gas phase of 95% N2/5% CO2 or 90% N2/10% CO2 and were preceded by an evaginating solution containing bile salts and trypsln. The medium is complex but does not contain chick embryo extract. Incubation temperature was 39 C. Oxygen is toxic to the cultures. Lack of CO2 or omission of the evaginating solution resulted in no growth. Essentially two-thirds of the life cycle of this tapeworm has now been accomplished in vitro in the absence of the normal hosts: snake or mouse, and cat.