Growth, development and pairing of Leucochloridiomorpha constantiae (Trematoda) metacercariae on the chorio-allantois of chick embryos cultivated in vitro.

A simple in vitro technique was devised to culture chick embryos in Petri dishes from the 4th to the 21st day of incubation. Leucochloridiomorpha constantiae (Trematoda) metacercariae were placed either singly or multiply (5/embryo) on the chorio-allantois of in vitro grown embryos on day 7 and were removed on day 14. Growth and development studies were also made on worms grown singly or multiply (5/chick) in the bursa of Fabricius of the domestic chick. Worms grown singly or multiply in embryos were sexually mature, although eggs from these worms were abnormal when compared with eggs from worms recovered from chicks. The mean body area of worms from chicks was 2-3 times greater than that of worms from embryos. The mean body area of single worms from embryos was significantly larger than that of worms grown multiply in this site. However, the mean body area of multiple worms from the chick was significantly larger than that of single worms from this site. Worm pairs or clusters were seen in all embryos with the multiple infections.