Murine infection model for maintenance and amplification of Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts

Propagation of Cryptosporidium parvum is problematic because in vitro development of the parasite is poor and animals are only briefly susceptible as neonates. At present oocysts of the parasite are usually procured by passage in neonatal sheep or cattle. In the present study, large numbers of oocys...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of Clinical Microbiology 1995-07, Vol.33 (7), p.1922-1924
Main Authors: Petry, F. (Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Germany.), Robinson, H.A, McDonald, V
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Animals, Newborn
Biological and medical sciences
Cattle
Cryptosporidiosis - parasitology
CRYPTOSPORIDIUM PARVUM
Cryptosporidium parvum - growth & development
Cryptosporidium parvum - isolation & purification
DEXAMETASONA
DEXAMETHASONE
Disease Models, Animal
ETAPAS DEL DESARROLLO ANIMAL
Feces - parasitology
Female
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
General aspects and techniques
IMMUNODEPRESSION
INMUNODEPRESION
Mice
Mice, Inbred C57BL
MODELE ANIMAL
MODELOS ANIMALES
Parasitology - methods
Protozoa
RATON
Sheep
SOURIS
STADE DE DEVELOPPEMENT ANIMAL
TECHNIQUE DE CULTURE
TECNICAS DE CULTIVO
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Description
Summary:Propagation of Cryptosporidium parvum is problematic because in vitro development of the parasite is poor and animals are only briefly susceptible as neonates. At present oocysts of the parasite are usually procured by passage in neonatal sheep or cattle. In the present study, large numbers of oocysts of C. parvum could be isolated following infection of dexamethasone-treated adult C57BL/6 mice. The amount of immunosuppressive drug and the regimen of administration were critical for successful maintenance of the parasite, however. Routinely, 10 mice (age, 8 to 12 weeks) were injected four times on alternate days with 1.0 mg of dexamethasone, and the last injection was given on the same day as oral inoculation with 10(6) oocysts. By using a simplified procedure for oocyst purification from mouse feces, approximately 10(9) oocysts were obtained. This model is inexpensive and comparatively safe to handle, and the numbers of animals inoculated can be varied to obtain the required number of oocysts. Thus, this murine infection model would be a suitable alternative to the use of neonatal calves or sheep for efficient oocyst propagation
ISSN:0095-1137
1098-660X
DOI:10.1128/jcm.33.7.1922-1924.1995