Growth of Babesia bovis in bovine erythrocyte cultures

Babesia bovis was cultured in a suspension of bovine erythrocytes incubated at 37 degrees C in Medium 199 with 50% bovine serum. The cells in culture were kept in suspension by slow stirring in spinner flasks and the medium was replaced at 24-hour intervals. Persistent multiplication of the parasite in a short series of subcultures suggests the feasibility of this approach for continuous culture.