Cryptosporidiosis, caused by Cryptosporidium, causes self-limited
diarrhea in normal hosts but may cause life-threatening
diarrhea in immunocompromised persons. Cryptosporidium-induced manifestations, including
weight-loss and intestinal physiological alterations are not noted in adult immunocompetent mice. So far, studies that have been used to test the therapeutic efficacy of drugs have been performed using various immunocompromised animal models. There is an urgent need of an immunocompetent small animal model that portrays Cryptosporidium-induced manifestations. In the current studies, we have compared two Cryptosporidium parvum pretreatment methods, we have hence used
sodium hypochlorite or acidic water to treat Cryptosporidium parvum, followed by
infection by oral gavage in adult immunocompetent C57BL6 mice. We demonstrated manifestations such as
weight loss, intestinal structural and physiological alterations such as intestinal, villi blunting, and
glucose malabsorption (as studied by the Ussing chamber technique) only in response to
infection with C. parvum that has been treated with acidic water and not with
sodium hypochlorite. These novel studies reveal that acidic water treatment of C. parvum results in manifestations of
cryptosporidiosis in otherwise resistant immunocompetent mice. The current studies open up possibilities of using the normal immunocompetent mice model to test therapeutic drugs against
cryptosporidiosis.