Isolation of chick intestinal cells infected with second-generation schizonts of Eimeria necatrix

After infection with Eimeria necatrix, chick intestinal cells undergo a profound increase in size. Herein, we describe methods for isolating and purifying infected cells containing second-genration schizonts at various times post-infection. Our purification procedures depends upon three fundamental properties of infected cells: namely (1) large size, (2) resistance to shearing and (3) decreased susceptibility to osmotic shock in hypotonic solutions. The availability of simple techniques for isolating infected whole cells should prove valuable in elucidating various intracellular aspects of infection during schizogony.