Comparison of diluents for maintaining the viability of Cowdria ruminantium

Thirteen solutions were compared to determine the optimal diluent for preservation of the viability of the Kwanyanga isolate of Cowdria ruminantium. They included the 2 diluents commonly used with C ruminantium and diluents proved effective with other rickettsiae. The capability of each diluent to maintain the viability of C ruminantium over a 3-hour period at room temperature was assessed by comparing the survival distributions of groups of outbred albino mice after they were inoculated IV with infected liver homogenates. The results indicated that the Snyder I diluent was significantly better at maintaining the viability of C ruminantium than were the other diluents studied.