On the Cultivation of Entamoeba histolytica and some other Entozoic Amoebae

Abstract

The method devised by Boeck and Drbohlav for the cultivation of E. histolytica has been successfully used for cultivating this species and various other entozoic amoebae of man and monkeys.Various modifications of the original technique have been tried, and several improvements are here described. Among these are methods of cultivation (involving the addition of solid rice-starch to the medium) whereby (1) more luxuriant and prolonged growth of the amoebae, and (2) all stages—including encystation and excystation—in the life-cycle of E. histolytica and other species can be obtained in vitro.Methods by which cultures of entozoic amoebae can be initiated from encysted forms have been discovered and are also described, and some indications are given for the isolation of pure strains from mixed cultures.The influence of the accompanying bacterial flora upon the various amoebae cultivated has been studied, and is briefly discussed in the light of certain experimental findings.Loss of infectivity to kittens has been observed in E. histolytica as an apparent result of cultivation in media containing solid starch.