In vitro infection of bovine brain endothelial cells by Cowdria ruminantium.

Endothelial cells from bovine brain capillaries (BBEC) were successfully infected with the Gardel stock of Cowdria ruminantium. Growth conditions of cowdria in BBEC and bovine umbilical endothelial cells (BUE) were identical with average intervals between passages of 8.6 and 8.9 days in BBEC (17 passages) and BUE (28 passages), respectively. The time required to complete the life cycle and the morphology of the parasite were identical in both types of cells. The demonstration that BBEC may be infected with C ruminantium offers the means to study the mechanism of infection of the blood brain barrier endothelium by this parasite.