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Updated: Feb 19, 2026
Mass Isolation and In Vitro Cultivation of Intramolluscan Stages of the Human Blood Fluke Schistosoma Mansoni
Published on: January 14, 2018
Successful long-term maintenance of Mansonella perstans in an in vitro culture system
Abdel Jelil Njouendou1,2, Manuel Ritter3, Winston Patrick Chounna Ndongmo1,2
1Parasite and Vector Research Unit (PAVRU), Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon.
Background:
Approximately 114 million people are infected with Mansonella perstans in large proportions of Africa. In contrast to other filariae that infect humans, M. perstans-infected individuals show no distinct pathology or specific clinical picture, indicating a well-tuned adaptation to the host. In addition, since M. perstans adult worms reside in serous cavities which are difficult to access, research has been hindered and there is a paucity of knowledge about the biology of M. perstans, especially the development of the different life stages as well as M. perstans-driven immune responses. Thus in this study, an in vitro culture system was developed which allows an in-depth analysis of M. perstans.
Results:
Culicoides species were caught in Ediki (Kumba), Southwest Region within Cameroon following a blood meal on a microfilaremic donor that had 1500 microfilariae/ml of peripheral blood and kept in captivity for 12 days at 23 °C. In a pilot experiment, 15 infective larvae were obtained from the midges and co-cultured with a confluent monolayer of monkey kidney epithelial cells (LLC-MK2) in DMEM medium supplemented with 10% FBS for up to 77 days. The resulting survival rates of 33% revealed that the cell-conditioned medium was suitable for long-term maintenance of M. perstans worms. To confirm these preliminary observations, 249 infective larvae were cultured for 50 days and their development was monitored daily and microscopically graded for motility. In total, 170 (68.3%) filariae survived and 124 (49.8%) larvae moulted between days 21-30 to become L5 stage larvae which were motile and showed continuous vigorous movement.
Conclusion:
We have established an in vitro culture system for the generation and long-term maintenance of viable M. perstans worms. This technique will be an important tool to study parasite biology and development, the role in host immunity, and might be helpful to discover novel treatment strategies against this filariae.
Insights
Researchers developed a novel in vitro system to culture Mansonella perstans worms, enabling detailed study of this neglected tropical disease parasite. This breakthrough facilitates research into M. perstans biology and potential treatments.
Area of Science:
- Parasitology
- Infectious Diseases
- Tropical Medicine
Background:
- Mansonella perstans infects approximately 114 million people in Africa.
- Limited research exists due to the difficulty in accessing adult worms and understanding M. perstans biology.
- A well-tuned host adaptation leads to a lack of distinct pathology in infected individuals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop an in vitro culture system for Mansonella perstans.
- To enable in-depth analysis of M. perstans biology and development.
- To facilitate research into host-parasite interactions and potential treatment strategies.
Main Methods:
- Infective M. perstans larvae were obtained from engorged Culicoides midges.
- Larvae were co-cultured with monkey kidney epithelial cells (LLC-MK2) in DMEM with 10% FBS.
- Long-term maintenance and development were monitored for up to 77 days.
Main Results:
- The cell-conditioned medium supported long-term maintenance of M. perstans worms with a 33% survival rate in a pilot experiment.
- In a larger culture, 68.3% of larvae survived over 50 days.
- Nearly 50% of larvae successfully moulted to the L5 stage between days 21-30, exhibiting vigorous motility.
Conclusions:
- An effective in vitro culture system for generating and maintaining viable M. perstans worms has been established.
- This technique is crucial for studying parasite biology, development, and immune responses.
- The system holds promise for discovering new treatment strategies against M. perstans infections.
