IN-VITRO CULTIVATION OF CRYPTOSPORIDIUM-PARVUM IN THE NONADHERENT HUMAN MONOCYTIC THP-1 CELL-LINE

This study shows that the human monocytic cell line THP-1 supports the growth of C. parvum Immunofluorescence controls showed that only scar ce oocysts remained after infection and disappeared within the first 2 4 h of culture. A continuous asexual life cycle proceeded throughout t he experiments, with at least 15-d cultures. This model provides a use ful tool for studies on the biology of C. parvum in cells involved in its transport in immunocompromised host