Studies on Frog Trypanosome

(II) Cultivation

Abstract

In an attempt to find a suitable medium for the cultivation of the frog trypanosome, media such as the N. N. medium (Novy and Mac Neal) and various modifications, the N. N. N. medium and Mo's medium were tested. The most satisfactory results were obtained by the addition of 0.4% saline to the slant of the N. N. medium using defibrinated rabbit blood so that the quantity of condensation water is increased. With this medium trypanosome proliferate in the fluid portion and a film is formed on the fluid surface, with further cultivation a white precipitate is formed on the floor of the fluid portion.
The blood or serum of various species of animals was substituted for the 0.4% saline and tested. Growth was not obtained with the defibrinated blood of other species. In the case of active serum, a slight effect was noted with the serum of the Rana catesbiana, guinea pig and rabbit, but proliferation was not seen, while proliferation was clearly enhanced by inactivation of the serum of the same animals especially the rabbit. The serum of toad, dog, goat, cat, chicken and man were not suited.
The fact that defibrinated rabbit serum has a growth promoting effect when combined with N. N. media while it in itself dose not, can be attributed to an inactivation of the serum by the temperature of the medium at the time of mixing.