Rate of growth of Entamoeba histolytica in different culture media

Abstract

Six different culture media for E. histolytica were prepared as described above. Three attempts at culturing E. hartmanni in five media were made, but growth was not maintained. The P + A 1 strain of E. histolytica was maintained for 22 transplants in Dobell's and Da Silva's media. Using the Fuchs-Rosenthal counting chamber, the rate of growth of this strain was studied in all media. It was found that the growth cycle differs with the medium used. The greatest number of organisms was found in Dobell's medium, while Nelson's medium did not support the growth at all. These two extreme results were again obtained after repeating the experiment. The longest period of survival appeared in St. John's medium. The results in Balamuth's, Da Silva's and McQuay's media were intermediate between the mentioned extremes. It was found that a short lag phase was present in the first few hours of incubation in Dobell's medium, and that this phase lasted for 60 hours in McQuay's. A review of the literature on the growth of E. histolytica in culture media and on the methods of counting amoebae in cultures is included.