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ATTEMPTS TO ESTABLISH EXPERIMENTAL CYCLOSPORA CAYETANENSIS INFECTION IN LABORATORY ANIMALS
Citation:
Eberhard, M. L., Y. R. Ortega, D. E. Hanes, E. K. Nace, R. Q. Do, M. G. Robl, K. Y. Won, C. Gavidia, N. L. Sass, K. Mansfield, A. Gozalo, J. Griffiths, R. Gilman, C. R. Sterling, AND M. J. Arrowood. ATTEMPTS TO ESTABLISH EXPERIMENTAL CYCLOSPORA CAYETANENSIS INFECTION IN LABORATORY ANIMALS. June 2000, JOURNAL OF PARASITOLOGY 86(3):577-582, (2000).
Impact/Purpose:
1) Conduct laboratory evaluations of new methods for detection of protozoan parasites.
2) Determine the infective dose of parasitic protozoa to hosts given a variety of models that will assist in estimating the public health significance at various levels of occurrence.
The work in this task will support CCL2 and 3 and will be completed by 9/05.
Description:
Attempts were made to develop an animal model for Cyclospora cayetanensis to identify a practical laboratory host for studying human cyclosporiasis. Oocysts collected from stool of infected humans in the United States, Haiti, Guatemala, Peru and Nepal were held in potassium dichromate solution to allow development of sporozoites. The following animal types were inoculated: 9 strains of mice, including adult and neonatal immunocompetent and immune-deficient inbred and outbred strains, rats, sandrats, chickens, ducks, rabbits, gerbils, hamsters, ferrets, pigs, dogs, owl monkeys, rhesus monkeys and cynomolgus monkeys. Most animals were inoculated by gavage, although some of the primates were fed oocysts on food items. The animals were examined for signs of infection, particularly diarrhea, and stool samples were examined for 4-6 wk after inoculation. None of the animals developed patent infections or signs of infection. We conclude that none of the animals tested are susceptible to infection with C. cayetanensis.