In vitro culture of equine strongylidae to the fourth larval stage in a cell-free medium

An efficient and reliable method is described for the culture of equine strongyles from the third (L 3 ) to the fourth (L 4 ) larval stage. Medium consists of 50% fetal calf serum and 50% NCTC with additions of L-glutamine, NaHCO 3 , yeast extract, bactopeptone, and dextrose. The gas phase used is of prime importance; it is a mixture of 10% CO 2 , 5% O 2 , and 85% N 2 . Strongylus vulgaris, Strongylus edentatus, Strongylus equinus Triodontophorus brevicauda, Triodontophorus serratus, Triodontophorus tenuicolis, Oesophagodontus robustus, Cylicocyclus insigne, and mixed species of cyathostomes were cultured to the L 4 stage