American trypanosomiasis in British Honduras: XI. Observation on the viability and morphology of Trypanosoma sigmodoni Culbertson 1941, in vitro

ABSTRACT

The viability and morphology of Trypanosoma sigmodoni from artificial media are described. Although the parasites in vitro transformed into amastigote, sphaeromastigote and epimastigote stages, they failed to multiply, or to complete their development to trypomastigote form. It is suggested that the forms of T. sigmodoni seen in the cultures may be morphologically similar to the stages of the parasite that may occur in the (as yet unknown) invertebrate host.(Summary)