Media Preferences of Bivesiculid Cercariae
Location
OC Auditorium
Start
4-2-2026 2:00 PM
Type of Presentation
Oral Presentation
Abstract
A limiting factor to using digenean cercariae lies in their general inability to survive outside of their host for more than a few days. This investigation aims to find a suitable media to keep Bivesiculid cercariae alive for longer than a few days and to determine the feasibility of keeping cercariae within culture. Cercariae were exposed to either Fetig’s Medium, Mitochondrial Isolation Medium or Mitochondrial Respiration Medium and activity was assessed on a daily basis thereafter. Cercarial activity was observed for up to 25±0.03, 8±0.01, and 7±0.02 days within Fetig’s Media, Mitochondrial Isolation Media, and Mitochondrial Respiration Media respectively. Decline in survivability and cercarial activity towards the end of each trial was characterized by the degradation or loss of cercarial eyespots, possibly indicating senescence. This study shows that within Fetig’s Media, cercariae can survive up to 25 days, opening the possibility to studies requiring longer survival.
Media Preferences of Bivesiculid Cercariae
OC Auditorium
A limiting factor to using digenean cercariae lies in their general inability to survive outside of their host for more than a few days. This investigation aims to find a suitable media to keep Bivesiculid cercariae alive for longer than a few days and to determine the feasibility of keeping cercariae within culture. Cercariae were exposed to either Fetig’s Medium, Mitochondrial Isolation Medium or Mitochondrial Respiration Medium and activity was assessed on a daily basis thereafter. Cercarial activity was observed for up to 25±0.03, 8±0.01, and 7±0.02 days within Fetig’s Media, Mitochondrial Isolation Media, and Mitochondrial Respiration Media respectively. Decline in survivability and cercarial activity towards the end of each trial was characterized by the degradation or loss of cercarial eyespots, possibly indicating senescence. This study shows that within Fetig’s Media, cercariae can survive up to 25 days, opening the possibility to studies requiring longer survival.