Conversion of schistosome cercariae to schistosomula in serum-supplemented media, and subsequent culture in vitro.

Both Schistosoma japonicum and S. mansoni cercariae, axenized by washing in NCTC 109, transformed to schistosomula when incubated directed in NCTC 109 containing 2--50% human or 50% rabbit serum at 37 degrees C. The resultant schistosomula were grown in vitro to adults which mated, although the females did not produce eggs. The cercaria-schistosomulum transformation took place at a slower rate in heat inactivated serum than in unheated serum.