FIG. 3.

Generalized scheme for isolation of representatives of T. cruzi and the African trypanosome complex from blood and other tissues of a vertebrate host. Samples are taken from blood as well as lymphoid tissue and transferred to NNN diphasic blood agar medium. Once established in an enriched medium, trypanosomes can be inoculated into animals or transferred into semidefined or defined culture medium. Isolates behave differently from one another, and it may not be possible to establish all isolates in defined media. The crude media are a good backup in case the organism will not grow under more defined circumstances.