In vivo and in vitro Growth of Nerve Parasite from Lophius americanus

Parasites belonging to the genus Spraguea develop into colonies in neuronal cells in the central nervous system of different species of the genus Lophius americanus. In particular, the trigeminal ganglia, dorsal spinal root ganglia and supramedullary cells are the main locations of large colonies of these parasites. In vitro studies wherein colonies were removed from the surrounding host cells showed that meront stages remained within the colony matrix of intermediate filaments and offered evidence of motor activity.