The cultivation of the exoerythrocytic stages ofPlasmodium berghei from sporozoites

Summary Cultures of embryonic rat brain and liver, and embryonic turkey brain were inoculated with sporozoites ofPlasmodium berghei. Sporozoites succeeded in establishing exoerythrocytic infections in approximately 10% of the cultures. The exoerythrocytic parasites developed to a late schizont stage with some showing early segmentation although free merozoites were not observed. The morphology and rate of development of the exoerythrocytic parasites in culture appear similar to that seen in vivo. This work was supported by ONR Contract No. N00014-76-C-1132 and Naval Medical Research and Development Command, Research Work Unit No. M0095PN.002.5058. the opinions and assertions contained herein are the private ones of the authors and are not to be construed as official or reflecting the views of the Navy Department or the naval service at large. The experiments reported herein were conducted according to the principles set forth in theGuide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, Institute of Laboratory Resources, National Research Council, DHEW, Pub. No. (NIH) 74-23.