Cryopreservation of infective particles of Theileria parva

Cryopreservation of infective particles of Theileria parva. International Journal for Parasitology3: 583–587. Infective particles of Theileria parva, the causative organism of East Coast fever of cattle, were obtained from infected Rhipicephalus appendiculatus ticks, either by using an in vitro feeding technique or by grinding the ticks in a suitable medium. If foetal calf serum containing 15% glycerol (v/v) was added to the infective material and it was then distributed either to glass capillary tubes (in vitro tick feed) or glass tubes (ground tick supernate) it could be slowly frozen to either ?80°C or ?196°C without loss of viability. Stabilates, tested by rapid thawing and inoculation into ECF-susceptible cattle, remained viable for up to a year at these temperatures.