Protistology 1 (3) 113–119 (2000)
Colonies of trypanosomatids on agar plates: the tool for differentiation of the species and isolates
S.A. Podlipaev and A.D. Naumov
Zoological Institute Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russia
Summary
Trypanosomatids unlike many other protozoans may grow on axenic liquid and solid media providing cultures of high density. It allows to
investigate the colonies size and shape polymorphism. In the present study colonies structure was investigated under scanning electron
microscopy. The comparison of colony diameter distribution in 5 species of trypanosomatids was also studied. The density of cell packing
varies in the colonies of different species. In cultures where the single size class of colonies predominates some selective factors
eliminate the cells which could form colonies of certain diameter. Such factor may be connected with a procedure of isolation or with
cultivating conditions. All data obtained allow to discriminate various isolates of trypanosomatids by phenotypic characters of the colonies
and to use this features in taxonomy of trypanosomatids.
Key words: Trypanosomatidae, insect and plant trypanosomatids, systematics, colonies on solid media
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