Improvement of the In Vitro Culture of Echinococcus Granulosus Metacestodes

Abstract

This work introduces a novel modification to the in vitro experimental vesicular development of the parasite. Our findings showed that protoscoleces exposed to insulin developed into microcysts in shorter times. Moreover, a tenfold increment in the yield of microcysts per tube was observed. An improvement of the in vitro culture of E. granulosus metacestodes was achieved. On the basis of this axenic in vitro system, biochemical, molecular and chemotherapeutical studies of E. granulosus will be greatly facilitated;