The in vivo and in vitro development of Trypanosoma andersoni Reilly and Woo, 1982 and Trypanosoma grylli Nigrelli, 1944 (Kinetoplastida)

Abstract

Trypanosoma andersoni Reilly and Woo multiplied in Hyla versicolor LeConte by binary fission as sphaeromastigotes and epimastigotes in the liver. Some experimentally infected frogs developed ascites and dividing T. andersoni and mononuclear macrophages were observed in the peritoneal fluid. Trypanosoma grylli Nigrelli multiplied by binary or multiple fission as sphaeromastigotes, epimastigotes, and rarely as trypomastigotes in the peripheral blood. In H. versicolor, no dividing T. andersoni was found in 50 days at 10 °C but dividing forms were seen at 22 and 30 °C. Dividing T. grylli were found for 10 days in frogs kept at 22 °C and for 50 days at 10 °C. However, no dividing form was seen at 30 °C.Trypanosoma andersoni and T. grylli were successfully cultured in a diphasic blood–agar medium. Trypanosoma andersoni blood trypomastigotes initially rounded up into primary sphaeromastigotes in slide cultures. Secondary sphaeromastigotes, epimastigotes, and metatrypanosomes were later formed in culture. All culture forms of T. andersoni except rounding trypomastigotes divided by binary fission. Trypanosoma grylli also formed sphaeromastigotes, epimastigotes, and metatrypanosomes in cultures. Multiple fission forms were common for this species. Cultures of both species of trypanosomes were cryopreserved and were infective to laboratory-raised H. versicolor 6 months later.