Abstract
The present study demonstrates the optimum conditions required for survival of the adult Setaria cervi in-vitro and the effect of some drugs on these worms. Continuous replacement of the perfusion fluid favoured survival of the worms. Aeration or oxygenation of the fluid had no effect. The optimum concentration of the glucose in Ringer's solution ensuring longest survival period was found to be 0.25 g/l. In such a modified Ringer's solution all the worms were living at the end of 72 hr. Addition of MgCl2 and NaH2PO4 into the fluid adversely affected the worms. Coal tar dyes, methyl violet, gentian violet and mercurochrome were found to be lethal to the adult worm in very low concentrations. Thiabendazole, diethylcarbamazine and acetylarsan were next in the descending order of potency. Piperazine hexahydrate, chlorpromazine and promethazine produced paralysis of the worms which regained normal motility after transference to the fresh solution. Sulphathiazole, streptomycin, penicillin and metronidazole had no effect.
