title: In vitro cultivation of cryptosporidium species.
abstract: The in vitro cultivation of protozoan parasites of the genus Cryptosporidium has advanced significantly in recent years. These obligate, intracellular parasites colonize the epithelium of the digestive and respiratory tracts, are often difficult to obtain in significant numbers, produce durable oocysts that defy conventional chemical disinfection methods, and are persistently infectious when stored at refrigerated temperatures (4 to 8 degrees C). While continuous culture and efficient life cycle completion (oocyst production) have not yet been achieved in vitro, routine methods for parasite preparation and cell culture infection and assays for parasite life cycle development have been established. Parasite yields may be limited, but in vitro growth is sufficient to support a variety of research studies, including assessing potential drug therapies, evaluating oocyst disinfection methods, and characterizing life cycle stage development and differentiation.
authors.affiliation: Division of Parasitic Diseases, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Public Health Service, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Atlanta, Georgia 30341, USA. marrowood@cdc.gov
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Arrowood
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002478:Cells, Cultured / Q000469:parasitology; D006224:Cricetinae; D003457:Cryptosporidiosis / Q000469:parasitology; D003458:Cryptosporidium / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D004285:Dogs; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D010274:Parasitology / Q000266:history / Q000379:methods; D051381:Rats