Culture of protozoan parasites.

The in vitro culture of protozoan parasites involves highly complex procedures, which are subject to many variables. These parasites have very complex life cycles and, depending on the life cycle stage, may require different culture parameters. However, in vitro cultivation is important for many reasons, some of which include: diagnosis, antigen and antibody production, assessment of parasite immune modulating capabilities, drug screening, improvements in chemotherapy, differentiation of clinical isolates, determination of strain differences, vaccine production, development of attenuated strains, and the continued supply of viable organisms for studying host-parasite interactions.