Comparison of three methods for initiating in vitro cultures of Theileria annulata schizonts.

Three methods for initiating in vitro cultures of Theileria annulata from infected cattle were compared: 1) separation of buffy coat cells by centrifugation in a plastic syringe; 2) separation of lymphocytes by a commercial Ficoll-Paque gradient and 3) trypsinization of liver biopsy material. Successful cultures were obtained in 26 out of 48 trials (54 p. 100) by method 1, in 28 out of 56 trials (50 p. 100) by method 2 and 17 out of 21 trials (81 p. 100) by method 3. Once established, cultures, initiated by any method can be subcultivated for years.