Continuous cultivation of Trypanosoma theileri at 37 C in bovine cell culture.

Trypanosoma theileri was cultivated at 37 C in bovine bone marrow cell culture through 50 consecutive subcultures. Medium 199, supplemented with Bacto-peptone, vitamin B12, and fetal bovine serum, was utilized both for primary and continuous cultivation. The number of trypanosomes produced in culture averaged 8 x 10(6) (1-26 x 10(6)) trypanosomes/ml. In each subculture the organisms divided as epimastigotes and transformed into trypomastigotes; a round from was observed during the stationary and declining phase of growth. Gradual changes such as increased generation time, size reduction, and decreased trypomastigote production were observed as subculturing progressed. Cultured trypanosomes were infective for the bovine through the 48th serial transfer and could be cultivated at 26 degrees C.