<i>In vitro</i>cultivation of rickettsia-like-organisms from<i>Glossina</i>spp.

Abstract

A method is described for the in vitro cultivation of the rickettsia-like-organisms (RLO) from Glossina spp. which are believed to be associated with susceptibility to trypanosome infection. Cultures of RLO were established by infecting a mosquito cell line (Aedes albopictus) with haemolymph taken from teneral flies. RLO from nine species of Glossina have been isolated and maintained in continuous culture using this technique.