Abstract
THE normal method of screening compounds for activity against Babesia infections of animals is based in the first instance on testing the compound in laboratory rats or mice infected with B. rodhaini using a regimen similar to that described for the testing of anti-malarial compounds1. Most compounds screened against B. rodhaini in this way show no activity at all, therefore there would be justification for developing an in vitro test which would greatly reduce the time, cost and numbers of animals involved. We describe here such a test which is applicable to all species of Babesia and which exploits the finding that Babesia parasites readily incorporate hypoxanthine in an in vitro culture system2.
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IRVIN, A., YOUNG, E. Possible in vitro test for screening drugs for activity against Babesia and other blood protozoa. Nature 269, 407–409 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1038/269407a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/269407a0
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