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Theileria parva: Attempts at Cultivation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 April 2009

Extract

In an earlier paper (1908, pp. 255–257), we gave a full account of a paper by Miyajima (1907) wherein this author described experiments in which he states that he succeeded in cultivating Theileria (Piroplasma) parva. According to Miyajima, he had no difficulty in cultivating the parasite when he added the blood of cattle (containing Theileria) to ordinary bouillon in the proportion of 1 : 5 to 1 : 10, the cultures being maintained at 20–30° C. Miyajima states that trypanosomes appeared in his cultures after an interval of 3 days and underwent vigorous multiplication reaching “the maximum after the tenth to fourteenth day.” Miyajima's description of the supposed process of development is obscure, and it is difficult to understand how the diminutive intra-corpuscular Theileria can develop into a Trypanosoma. We refer the reader who desires particulars regarding these experiments to our paper already cited. In our paper we stated that “a certain amount of scepticism” appeared justified until Miyajima's results had been extended and confirmed. The warning appears to have come too late in respect to Woodcock's recent review of the Haemoflagellates in Ray Lankester's Treatise on Zoology (1909, Part I. fasc. 1, p. 260), for Woodcock appears to accept Miyajima's remarkable discovery as authentic and conclusive.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1909

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References

1 Nuttall, G. H. F. and Graham-Smith, G. S. (1908). The development of Piroplasma canis in culture. Parasitology, i. 243260, 1 text-figure, Plate XIX.CrossRefGoogle Scholar