Observations on the Survival In vitro of Bacteria-Free Adult Common Liver Flukes, Fasciola hepatica Linn., 1758

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Abstract
Bacteria-free adult F. hepatica were obtained through use of either 25 mg aureomycin or 250 mg streptomycin and 100,000 units penicillin per 100 ml of solution for the first 18 hours after the flukes were removed from the bovine host. Autoclaved liver extract at the rate of 200 ml to 800 ml of Tyrode''s solution plus 10 ml Injec- tion Crude Liver-MRT maintained some flukes in excellent condition for 3 weeks and permitted survival for 30 days. Variation in pH within the range of 7 to 8.5 and considerable variation of inorganic constituents of the basic saline solution did not affect survival of the parasite in vitro. It was confirmed that F. hepatica can apparently absorb simple carbohydrates through its cuticle. It can survive in solutions of glucose, fructose and glycerol, and to a lesser extent in cholesterol, pyruvate and glutamic acid. It can not survive in solutions containing galactose, sucrose, maltose, ribose or sorbitol as the only source of energy. F. hepatica can survive as long in anaerobic solutions as in aerobic ones, but the motility, color and shape indicate that this parasite is primarily an aerobic organism.

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