Survival of Echinococcus granulosus scolices in saline solution and in hydatid fluid at different temperatures
Barriga, O.O.
Boletin Chileno de Parasitologia 26(3): 80-84
1971
ISSN/ISBN: 0365-9402 PMID: 5149615 Document Number: 31590
Echinococcus granulosus scoleces from sheep livers and lungs were maintained in vitro in hydatid fluid and in 0.15 M NaCl at -9 deg C, 8 deg C and 25 deg C. All the scoleces in hydatid fluid died in less than 24 hours at -9 deg C, before the 28th day at 8 deg C and before the 11th day at 25 deg C. Scoleces in 0.15 M NaCl died before the 4th day at -9 deg C and before the 9th at 25 deg C; however, two-thirds of those at 8 deg C survived beyond the 27th day. Some evidence was found suggesting that microbial growth impairs survival and that hydatid fluid favours it. Some results also suggested that liver scoleces survived better in vitro than did lung scoleces. The use of 1.5% trypan blue as a criterion of vitality was not effective because of the failure of some dead scoleces to stain. A much better criterion was the combination of large size, transparency and presence of calcareous granules and of hooks on the living scoleces. [AS].