ABSTRACT
The major strides made in the in vitro cultivation of Babesia species, there is need and scope for the introduction of more innovative techniques to meet increasing requirements for laboratory research and field immunization programs. Although much progress has been made identifying culture systems and conditions for the continuous propagation of Babesia, present methods are not very suitable for industrial-scale production. Using invertebrate cell cultures as host cell systems, it was possible to cultivate certain Babesia species for a period of 12 months. Babesia microti has been cultivated for up to 4 days using a modification of the Trager-Jensen method for the cultivation of P. falciparum. Four major categories of the practical applications of in vitro cultures of Babesia species can be identified: immunoprophylaxis, diagnosis, and assessment of immune status, identification of potentially protective immunogens, study of metabolic pathways and optimal growth requirements for various babesia species, and drug sensitivity assays.
