EXPERIMENTAL CRYPTOSPORIDIOSIS IN KIDS

The clinical, pathological and parasitological features of cryptospori diosis resulting from experimental inoculation with 6 x 10(6) Cryptosp oridium parvum oocysts were studied in kids. Decreased appetite and de pression became apparent 72 h post inoculation, Subsequently watery fe ces with clumps of mucus and color changes from brown to yellow were o bserved, The mean duration of diarrhea was 4.2 days. Oocyst shedding s tarted 4 days post inoculation (DPI), started to decrease at 7 DPI, an d lasted until 12 DPI. The evidence of high infectivity and fast trans mission of C. parvum oocysts was observed under standard zoohygienic c onditions, The characteristics of intestinal lesions were similar to t hose found in other neonatal ruminants infected with C. parvum. The mo st severe lesions were seen in the posterior jejunum and ileum from 3 to 7 DPI, characterized by villus atrophy, villus blunting, fusion of atrophic villi, crypt hyperplasia, inflammatory infiltration in the la mina propria, and metaplasia of mucosal epithelium. Scanning electron microscopy of ileal epithelium revealed ultrastructural changes on the surface of intestinal mucosa. No cryptosporidia or associated patholo gical lesions were found in the large intestine or other tissues. The distribution of cryptosporidia in the intestine and number of cryptosp oridia per ileal villus on different DPI were also estimated for detai led characterization of the infection in kids as a model for experimen tal cryptosporidiosis. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.