Artificial Pond Water

The Schistosomiasis Resource Center (SRC) uses an ion exchange system to purify the water supplied to the laboratory.  Use purified water to prepare the 4 stock solutions below:

1. FeCl₃ • 6H₂O – 0.25 g/L
2. CaCl₂ • 2H₂O – 12.9 g/L
3. MgSO₄ • 7H₂O – 10 g/L
4. Phosphate buffer:
   • dissolve 34 g KH₂PO₄ in 500 mL H₂0;
   • add approximately 175 mL 5N NaOH until pH 7.2 is reached
   • add 1.5 g (NH₄)₂SO₄
   • add H20 to 1.0 L

For 20.0L Artificial Pond Water

10 mL FeCl₃ solution
50 mL CaCl₂ solution
50 mL MgSO₄ solution
25 mL Phosphate buffer
Bring to 20.0L and mix

For 100.0L Artificial Pond Water

50mL FeCl₃ solution
250mL CaCl₂ solution
250mL MgSO₄ solution
125mL phosphate buffer
Bring to 100.0L and mix

Note: APW is used in all SRC operations including snail cultivation, parasite collection, percutaneous exposure of rodents to cercariae; and the exposure of snails to miracidia. Crushed limestone is added to the snail aquaria (~0.5g/1.5L H₂0)

REFERENCE

Artificial Pond Water recipe communicated by:  J.J. Collins, PhD (U of Texas- Southwestern) and P.A. Newmark, PhD (U of Wisconsin, Madison) by way of D.L. Williams, PhD (Rush University) and J.L. Bennett, PhD (Michigan State University)

Schistosomiasis Resource Center, 2025