Goat serum, a substitute of bovine serum in cultivation of Babesia bovis.

Babesia bovis (a Mexican isolate) was cultivated in MASP culture system using goat serum in various concentrations as substitute of bovine serum. It was observed that 20% goat serum + 20% bovine serum + 60% Parker's medium 199 supported the growth of the parasite, which was maintained in this medium through 8 subcultures. The soluble exoantigen (vaccine) present in the culture supernatant is to be quantified and tested in vitro. Goat serum from slaughterhouses may be utilized for in vitro cultivation of the parasite and, expectedly, production of vaccine. This study may prove to be useful in reducing the cost of vaccine at least in tropical countries.