Abstract

Laboratory mass rearing of nematode is a low-cost method to provide a good source for laboratory analysis. Laboratory mass rearing of free-living nematode provide a significant source for genetic, phylogenetic and physiological analysis of the nematode and animal-based study. This investigation was conducted during 2017 at North University of South Africa to find out the best condition for mass rearing of free-living nematode. The Media, including Water Agar 1.5%, WA 1.5% + fish oil, WA 1.5% + K2HPO4, and Nutrient Agar + fish oil was used for their evaluation for multiplication of Halicephalobus in the laboratory condition. One mL fish oil extracted from milk was added to the media WA 1.5% + fish oil and NA + fish oil and incubated at room temperature. The nematodes number four, seven, and fourteen-day after inoculation in WA 1.5% amended with fish oil, and the other media were counted. These results showed that the multiplication of nematodes in WA 1.5% + fish oil (612.3 ± 36; after 7 days) was much more than other media for multiplication of Halicephalobus. Therefore, fish oil is a good option to add to the media to multiply the free-living nematodes in laboratory conditions.