Schistosoma mansoni: Transformation of Cercariae to Schistosomules in ELAC, Saline and Phosphate-Buffered Saline

摘要

Stirewalt studied the procedural steps used in 7 different artificial methods fo transforming cercariae to schistosomules. Only 1 step was found common to all of these methods: namely, incubation of cercariae in a culture medium such as lactalbumin hydrolysate in Earle's salts (ELAC). It was postulated that cercaria-to-schistosomule conversion is triggered and supported by an abnormal environment of suitable temperature which is non-lethal but stressful to cercariae. (Reprints)