In vitro cell adherence to newly excysted Fasciola hepatica: failure to affect their subsequent development in rats.

Newly excysted juvenile liver flukes were maintained in vitro for 24 hours in the presence of normal or immune rat serum alone, or with the addition of rat cells derived from the peritoneal cavity. Serum was changed and fresh cells added every four hours. Cells were seen to adhere to the flukes in the presence of immune serum throughout the period of incubation, and in the absence of cells this serum induced a precipitate around the flukes. Viability of the flukes, as measured by their transfer to the peritoneal cavity of naive rats and recovery from the livers three weeks later, was unaffected by the treatment.