Central Laboratory of Swiss TPH

The Central Laboratory of Swiss TPH provides specialised laboratory services for internal and external partners working in research, diagnostics and drug development. Our core focus is on the establishment and maintenance of complex parasite life cycles in animal models and on the provision of larvae, worms and other biological materials for antigen production and experimental applications.

Our expertise

We have many years of experience in setting up, maintaining and studying the complex life cycles of parasites in animal models. This requires in-depth expertise in the selection and infection of suitable definitive and intermediate hosts for specific parasites, as well as in the continuous maintenance of these cycles, since many parasites cannot be cultured in vitro.

Our Central Laboratory is equipped with a state-of-the-art animal facility, integrated laboratories and a breeding unit for intermediate hosts, where various snail species and ticks are maintained. This infrastructure enables us to maintain and propagate different parasite species throughout their entire life cycle, forming the basis for stable and reproducible models for experimental and preclinical applications. We make these models available to research institutions, diagnostic laboratories and industry partners.

Permanent helminth life cycles

We currently maintain the following life cycles on a continuous basis:

• Schistosoma mansoni
• Angiostrongylus cantonensis
• Strongyloides ratti
• Acanthocheilonema viteae

Further parasite life cycles at Swiss TPH

Alongside the helminth life cycles listed above, further helminth and protozoan life cycles are maintained at Swiss TPH.

The Helminth Drug Development research group maintains several helminth life cycles, including those of Trichuris muris and the hookworm.

The Parasite Chemotherapy research group cultures protozoa such as Plasmodium falciparum, Trypanosoma spp., Giardia lamblia and Entamoeba spp. in vitro can combine them with in vitro disease models (e.g. Trypanosoma brucei and malaria).

Existing life cycles can be adapted or expanded to meet specific research needs upon request.
 

Our services

We supply parasites at various stages of development for use in research projects, diagnostic applications and drug testing. For preclinical studies, we offer well-established helminth models to evaluate new drug candidates. Additionally, we produce larvae and adult worms for use in antigen production in diagnostic and immunological detection systems.

For teaching, demonstration and training purposes, we provide suspensions containing fixed parasite stages for independent specimen preparation, as well as customised parasite preparations tailored to specific requirements. We also support our partners with methodological queries, establishing new models and optimising existing parasite life cycles.

Upon request, we provide training and technical instruction in establishing and maintaining specific parasite life cycles.
 

Continuing education and training programmes

In addition to laboratory services, Swiss TPH offers structured continuing education formats in parasitology and tropical medicine. These include one-day diagnostic courses in parasitology, as well as multi-day or week-long courses for BMA-HF schools in the fields of parasitology and diagnostics. The content is specifically aligned with the respective curricula and individually adapted in close collaboration with teaching staff.

We also design customised training programmes for institutions, research organisations and industry partners, which we conduct both at your premises and at Swiss TPH. Please feel free to contact us.