A Practical Liquid Medium for Cultivation of Trypanosoma cruzi in Large Volumes

Abstract

In the media usually employed for the cultivation of Trypanosoma cruzi, the portion most favorable to the growth of this microorganism is the water of condensation formed on blood agar. This fluid is so small in amount that rubber caps are placed on tubes and flasks to conserve it during the incubation of cul-tures. In 1936 Kelser used such a medium for the production of diagnostic anti-gen for Chagas disease and demonstrated that the antigen had merit as a medical tool. However, the necessity of having aseptically drawn blood makes the preparation of large amounts of Kelser's medium difficult. In 1943 Miss Nylah Tom showed that a blood agar medium could be inspis-sated and sterilized in the autoclave at 15 pounds for 20 minutes. This discovery suggested the sequence of experiments by which we were able to arrive at a practical liquid medium for cultivation of Trypanosoma cruzi in large volumes. In this laboratory, Trypanosoma cruzi has been cultivated in 5-ml, 500-ml, and 5-liter volumes in a solution of 2 per cent of peptone, 0.5 per cent of sodium chloride, and 0.2 per cent of glucose (pH 7.5). Previously coagulated and drie