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Morphological characterization of Cryptosporidium parvum life-cycle stages in an in vitro model system

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 August 2009

H. BOROWSKI ,
R. C. A. THOMPSON ,
T. ARMSTRONG  and
P. L. CLODE
H. BOROWSKI
Affiliation:
WHO Collaborating Centre for the Molecular Epidemiology of Parasitic Infections, Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Murdoch University, South Street, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia
R. C. A. THOMPSON*
Affiliation:
WHO Collaborating Centre for the Molecular Epidemiology of Parasitic Infections, Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Murdoch University, South Street, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia
T. ARMSTRONG
Affiliation:
WHO Collaborating Centre for the Molecular Epidemiology of Parasitic Infections, Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Murdoch University, South Street, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia
P. L. CLODE
Affiliation:
Centre for Microscopy, Characterisation and Analysis, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Hwy, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
*
*Corresponding author: WHO Collaborating Centre for the Molecular Epidemiology of Parasitic Infections, Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Murdoch University, South Street, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia. Tel: +(08) 9360 2466. Fax: +(08) 9360 6285. E-mail: a.thompson@murdoch.edu.au
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Summary

Cryptosporidium parvum is a zoonotic protozoan parasite that mainly affects the ileum of humans and livestock, with the potential to cause severe enteric disease. We describe the complete life cycle of C. parvum in an in vitro system. Infected cultures of the human ileocecal epithelial cell line (HCT-8) were observed over time using electron microscopy. Additional data are presented on the morphology, development and behavioural characteristics of the different life-cycle stages as well as determining their time of occurrence after inoculation. Numerous stages of C. parvum and their behaviour have been visualized and morphologically characterized for the first time using scanning electron microscopy. Further, parasite-host interactions and the effect of C. parvum on host cells were also visualized. An improved understanding of the parasite's biology, proliferation and interactions with host cells will aid in the development of treatments for the disease.

Keywords

Cryptosporidium parvummorphologyhost cell interactionphylogenetic affinitygregarineselectron microscopy
Type
Research Article
Information
Parasitology , Volume 137 , Issue 1 , January 2010 , pp. 13 - 26
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2009

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