Experimental infection in mice of Cryptosporidium muris isolated from a camel.

Abstract

Cryptosporidium muris-like oocysts in 5 g of camel feces were concentrated by the Sheather sugar flotation method, saline-washed, pelleted and reconstituted to an approximate concentration of 2.5 million per ml. One- to 2-microliters inocula were given per os to 25 2- to 20-day-old mice, with 15 contact control litter-mates. The 15- and 20- day inoculates had acid-fast-positive fecal smears by day-12 after inoculation. Necropsies of mice inoculated at 2 and 5 days of age showed colonization only of gastric glands by day-12, and day-27, respectively. Control mice were negative. Identical methods using similar oocysts from cattle produced no evidence of transmission.