The in vitro cultivation of Taenia pisiformis to sexually mature adults.

Taenia pisiformis was cultivated from a cysticercus to a non-fertile adult in a diphasic medium. This medium was composed of coagulated bovine serum, as a solid phase, and CMRL 1066, modified by the addition of fetal calf serum, yeast extract, glucose and KCl, as a liquid phase. The medium was gassed with 10% O2 and 5% CO2 in N2. Evidence of morphogenesis with proglottid formation occurred after 7-8 days of culture, and genital pores were formed after 22 days. Some worms showed signs of teratological changes with two or three genital pores.