Definition and collection in quantity of schistosomules of Schistosoma mansoni

Abstract

On the basis of comparison of the characteristics of cercariae with schistosome larvae recovered from naturally-penetrated host skin in situ and cultured in vitro in Rose chambers with dialysis membranes, schistosomules are defined as saline- and serum-adapted, water-intolerant larvae developed from cercariae by casting of tails, depletion of pre- and post-acetabular glands, and changing of surface resulting in loss of precise cercarial shape and the capacity to form peri-cercarial sero-envelopes. The development of equipment and procedures is described for harvesting 15,000 or more schistosomules per collecting vessel, after they have penetrated dried, scraped, plucked rat abdominal skin.