Genetic and phenotypic characterization of trypanosomas

Trypanosoma theileri, of the subgenus Megatrypanum, a non-pathogenic cosmopolitan blood dwelling parasite of bovine. T. theileri can be cultured at room temperature in several culture media. Blood samples were collected from deer's. To see if the blood was infected with trypanosomes it was cultivated in 2 ml sheep blood or cell cultivation medium DMEM with antibiotics. Growth was detected by microscopy to see if there were any trypanosomes. To determine the species of trypanosomes that was in the deer blood a DNA-preparation was done before a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) could be done. With sequencing the trypanosomes where determined to be Trypanosoma theileri. Different tests were made to see in what way the trypanosomes best were caught to the objective slides. Forty samples of borrelia positive serum from forty different patients were tested with the fluorescent microscopy. Forty different samples from blood donors were tested the same way. Blood samples from 16 different fissiped were taken and to see if they were infected with trypanosomes. Three different PCR's were done on the 16 blood samples. A small test on human blood was also performed. Protein identification by immunoblot with western blot and silver staining was done. With the electron microscopy tests were done in the ordinary way and Critical Dry Point to see if both of the techniques worked. Enzyme-Linked Immuno Sorbent Assay (ELISA) test were accomplished on two 96 well plates. The wells on the plates were diluted in different ways before they were processed.