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Review
. 2002 Jul;15(3):329-41.
doi: 10.1128/CMR.15.3.329-341.2002.

Methods for cultivation of luminal parasitic protists of clinical importance

C Graham Clark  1 , Louis S Diamond
Affiliations
Review

Methods for cultivation of luminal parasitic protists of clinical importance

C Graham Clark et al. Clin Microbiol Rev. 2002 Jul.

Abstract

Cultivation of luminal protistan parasites has a long history. In this review we discuss the methods and media that are most widely used for the establishment and maintenance of the following organisms in culture: Entamoeba histolytica, Giardia intestinalis, Trichomonas vaginalis, Dientamoeba fragilis, Blastocystis hominis, and Balantidium coli. While cultivation is of limited importance in the diagnostic laboratory, it is essential to most research laboratories, and it is toward the latter that this review is primarily aimed.

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Figures

FIG. 1.
FIG. 1.
Flow diagram illustrating the stages in establishing luminal protists in culture. This procedure is relevant to all the species discussed in the present work, although the medium used and source of material will vary.
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