PROPHYLACTIC EFFECT OF BOVINE ANTI-CRYPTOSPORIDIUM HYPERIMMUNE COLOSTRUM IMMUNOGLOBULIN IN HEALTHY-VOLUNTEERS CHALLENGED WITH CRYPTOSPORIDIUM-PARVUM

Bovine hyperimmune anti-Cryptosporidium colostrum immunoglobulin (BACI ) decreases the intensity of Cryptosporidium parvum infection in vitro . We investigated the prophylactic effect of BACI in healthy adults ch allenged with C. parvum. After we established an oocyst dose that resu lted in 100% infection in four volunteers (baseline group), 16 volunte ers were randomized to receive (1) BACI prior to C. parvum challenge ( BACI group) and a nonfat milli placebo 30 minutes later, (2) BACI prio r to and 30 minutes after challenge (reinforced BACI group), or (3) no nfat milk placebo prior to and 30 minutes after challenge. Subjects re ceived BACI (10 g) or nonfat milk placebo three times a day for a tota l of 5 days and were followed for clinical symptoms and oocyst excreti on for 30 days. A trend toward less diarrhea (P =.08) was observed for subjects receiving BACI in comparison with occurrences in placebo rec ipients. Subjects receiving BACI or nonfat milk placebo had a 100-fold reduction in oocyst excretion as compared with excretion in the basel ine group.