SUCCESSFUL LONG-TERM IN-VITRO CULTIVATION OF THEILERIA-ANNULATA SCHIZONTS IN MEDIA SUPPLEMENTED WITH HOMOLOGOUS AND HETEROLOGOUS SERA

The efficacy of medium RPMI-1640 supplemented with either foetal bovin e, normal bovine, goat or sheep sera was compared for prolonged in vit ro propagation of Theileria annulata (Hisar) schizonts. Medium RPMI-16 40 supplemented with 20% foetal bovine serum (standard growth medium) resulted in optimum growth of T. annulata (Hisar) schizonts in vitro. Comparable viability and non-viability counts were observed in growth media supplemented with normal bovine or goat sera. However, viability counts in medium supplemented with sheep serum were significantly low er than that of the standard medium. Mitotic indices of cultures of T. annulata (Hisar) schizonts were directly related to the extent of cel l growth and were lower in various growth media supplemented with norm al bovine, goat or sheep sera than in that of the standard medium. The results suggested that normal bovine and goat sera could be successfu lly used in place of foetal bovine serum in the growth medium for long -term in vitro propagation of T. annulata schizonts. The study will he lp in reducing the cost of large-scale in vitro propagation of T. annu lata aimed at mass production of the cell culture vaccine. (C) 1998 El sevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.