PREPARATION OF PRIMARY CULTURES OF TICK CELLS

  • 1 January 1978
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 39  (9) , 1558-1564
Abstract
Primary cell cultures were prepared from preimaginal bodies from the nymphal ticks, Rhipicephalus sanguineus, Dermacentor andersoni and Amblyomma maculatum, and from the hemocytes of late-stage nymphal and adult ticks, Ornithodoros coriaceus. Dissection methods for obtaining preimaginal bodies and hemocytes for culture are described. A culture medium, designated RML 375, was used for both culture methods. Primary cultures were established with minimal contamination. Preimaginal body cultures may be maintained for 2-8 mo. or longer and hemocyte cultures for 1-9 mo. Cultured cells form incomplete monolayers and tend to grow in clusters. Subculturing these cells is difficult, although A. maculatum were successfully subcultured several times. A brief review of arthropod tissue culturing is presented and potential applications of the method are discussed.