Viability of Conispiculum guindiensis in Calotes versicolor Preserved in Formalin

Abstract

SEVERAL specimens of Calotes versicolor (a garden lizard) were collected from gardens in Guindy near Madras, during March 1949. Blood, exuding from their cut tails, was examined for filarial infection. Six calotes found positive with microfilariæ of C. guindiensis were killed by the use of chloroform. Before preservation in formol–saline (one part of commercial formalin to four parts of normal saline) a 2-in. slit was made in the abdominal wall to open it. The specimens were brought to Delhi for demonstrating the adult worms in situ. In one specimen, which was dissected fourteen days later, although some degree of putrefaction had taken place, viable filarial worms were seen. Some of the adult female worms contained ova which stretched out to typical microfilarial forms. Similar findings were observed in the remaining calotes dissected at weekly intervals. The last two calotes were dissected in the sixth week of preservation. Temperature during that period ranged from 97.0°F. maximum to 51.0°F. minimum.