[Trials for optimization of the culture conditions of human pathogenic trypanosomas and leishmania]

Due to the extended political, cultural and economic relations with tropical countries a good knowledge of tropical diseases is required. Since the direct parasitological diagnosis is superior to the serological one it seems logical to improve the culture conditions for laboratory diagnosis and for immunological and chemotherapeutical tests. Trypanosoma cruzi (Chagas) and Leishmania donovani (kala-azar) were tested in vitro. Enlargement of the culture surface at the same volume of the medium at 22 degrees C yielded an increase in the number of protozoa by 100%. When blood of different animal species was added to the medium, rabbit blood and that of other rodents such as rat and mouse showed the highest rate of growth. By using the newly developed semi-defined medium 4 as overlay and as monophasic medium high rates of growth were obtained similar to those obtained with known complex media. Therefore, no further import of relevant substances is necessary.