Laboratory propagation of freshwater cyclopoid copepods as an intermediate host for parasitic helminths

•Eucyclops serrulatus is kept in the laboratory for generations, with Chilomonas as the food.•Long-term feeding with only Euglena may have a bad effect to Eucyclops.•Eucyclops is a suitable host for Spirometra and Gnathostoma.•Mesocylops is a suitable host for Kamegainema.

Among the freshwater cyclopoids, small and medium-sized species can be propagated in the laboratory with a flagellate Chilomonas as the food. By contrast, large species need to be given, in addition to the flagellate, a larger food organism. For this, although a metazoan food is preferable, a ciliate Stentor may in part serve as a substitute. Methods for infection experiment involving copepods are given, and photographs of some parasite larvae in the copepod host are shown. Usage of carbonated water is helpful to immobilize cyclopoids and thus recommended for infection experiments.

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