Trypanosoma (Schizotrypanum) dionisii of Pipistrellus pipistrellus (Chiroptera): intra- and extracellular development in vitro

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Abstract
A trypanosome identified as Trypanosoma (Schizotrypanum) dionisii Bettencourt & França, 1905, has been isolated from Pipistrellus pipistrellus (Chiroptera) in England. At least five out of eight P. pipistrelhis were infected. 2. In the blood of P. pipistrelhis, the parasite closely resembled T. (S.) cruzi. When grown in vitro in monophasic or diphasic media at 28°C, epimastigotes and trypomastigotes developed. The latter were of two types — very long, thin forms and less numerous shorter individuals. 3. The trypanosomes multiplied as amastigotes within HeLa and mouse L cells in vitro. After 6–9 days in HeLa cells at 37°C, they transformed into small trypomastigotes and emerged from the cells. Higher infection rates (up to about 4%) were obtained in cell cultures inoculated with flagellates from older monophasic cultures, which contained more of the long, slender trypomastigotes. 4. Trypanosomes also entered (or were phagocytosed by) up to 60% or more of mouse peritoneal macrophages in vitro. Multiplication occurred by binary and multiple fission of amastigotes in at least some of the parasitized macrophages and transformation into trypomastigotes was seen after 7 or more days at 37°C. Development in macrophages was less synchronous than in HeLa cells.

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