Growth of Theileria annulata and T. parva in tissue culture

Abstract

Theileria annulata was grown in tissue culture for over 59 days from implants of infected spleen, lymph node or liver. Multiplication of the parasites occurred and the cultures were infective for cattle when tested after 17 and 42 days. This confirms earlier work by TsUR (Tchernomoretz), 1945. T. parva was maintained in tissue culture up to 14 days. Some multiplication of the parasites occurred during the first few days. The parasites occurred mostly in lymphoid cells ; they were restricted to the cells of the initial implant and did not spread out into the cells of the outgrowth. T. parva appeared to exert a toxic influence over the adjacent cells ; and if the initial implant of spleen or lymph node contained many parasites, growth of all types of cell was inhibited.