[Cytomorphological characteristics of continous lymphoid cell culture invaded by Theileria]

Cell types and morphological characteristics of Theileria annulate-invaded cell lines from spleen, thymus, and lymph nodes were studied. Parasites in the form of macroschizonts were shown to invade three main cell groups: small lymphocyte type, monocyte type, and large reticulum cell type. Theilerias were found in the cytoplasm of these cells. Fibroblast-like cells present in the culture were free from Theileria. During mitotic division of a host cell, parasites were found to be distributed between daughter cells. Continuous cell lines invaded with Theileria can be used as a laboratory model to study some aspects of parasite-host cell interaction.