A newborn mouse Cryptosporidium parvum infection model: its application to the study of therapeutic and prophylactic measures for controlling cryptosporidiosis in ruminants.

In this study, a newborn mouse model of Cryptosporidium parvum infection is presented so as to evaluate therapeutic and prophylactic measures for controlling cryptosporidiosis in ruminants. Ninety-six suckling mice from ten litters were used. The mice in group I were infected with C. parvum oocysts, and the mice in group II served as non-infected controls. In both groups, intensity of infection and serum IgG, IgA and IgM responses were measured at 6, 9, 12 and 16 days post-infection (pi). Experimentally induced infection in mice proved to be similar to natural infections in lambs, kids and calves. Thus, the intensity of infection peaked at 9 days pi then decreased slightly, showing its lowest value at 16 days pi. This decline in the number of oocysts coincided with peaks in IgM and IgA. Finally, non-infected mice had no oocysts and did not show any increase in their anti-C. parvum antibody levels.