Time gap between oocyst shedding and antibody responses in mice infected with Cryptosporidium parvum.
We observed the time gap between oocyst shedding and antibody responses in mice (3-week-old C57BL/6J females) infected with Cryptosporidium parvum. Oocyst shedding was verified by modified acid-fast staining. The individually collected mouse sera were assessed for C. parvum IgM and IgG antibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay from 5 to 25 weeks after infection. The results showed that C. parvum oocysts were shed from day 5 to 51 post-infection (PI). The IgM antibody titers to C. parvum peaked at week 5 PI, whereas the IgG antibody titers achieved maximum levels at week 25 PI. The results revealed that IgM responses to C. parvum infection occurred during the early stage of infection and overlapped with the oocyst shedding period, whereas IgG responses occurred during the late stage and was not correlated with oocyst shedding. Hence, IgM antibody detection may prove helpful for the diagnosis of acute cryptosporidiosis, and IgG antibody detection may prove effective for the detection of past infection and endemicity.
Yu
Jae-Ran
JR
Department of Environmental and Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine, KonKuk University, Chungju 380-701, Korea. maria205@kku.ac.kr
Lee
Soo-Ung
SU
D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood; D003457:Cryptosporidiosis / Q000276:immunology*; D016785:Cryptosporidium parvum / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D033661:Oocysts / Q000276:immunology; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms; D013997:Time Factors
D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M