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Mouse Models for Use in Cryptosporidium Infection Studies and Quantification of Parasite Burden Using Flow Cytometry, qPCR, and Histopathology

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Cryptosporidium

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 2052))

Abstract

Cryptosporidiosis threatens life of young children in developing countries and newborn calves around the world. No vaccine or therapy can prevent or cure this diarrhea-inducing enteric disease caused by Cryptosporidium spp. protozoan parasites. There is an essential need to discover new therapeutic drugs efficient in reducing parasite burden in infected individuals. Research therefore relies on reliable small animal models of cryptosporidiosis. Here, we present excellent mouse models which can efficiently mimic pathogenesis of human and bovine cryptosporidiosis. We also describe methods to purify C. parvum oocysts from stool and intestine of infected mice to facilitate oocyst quantification. Moreover, we present protocols using flow cytometry, quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and histopathology to accurately quantify parasite burden in stool or intestine samples.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Reference Centre for Parasitology, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada

    Karine Sonzogni-Desautels & Momar Ndao

  2. Infectious Diseases and Immunity in Global Health Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada

    Karine Sonzogni-Desautels & Momar Ndao

  3. Atlanta Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Decatur, GA, USA

    Jan R. Mead

  4. Emory University School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Atlanta, GA, USA

    Jan R. Mead

  5. Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada

    Momar Ndao

Authors
  1. Karine Sonzogni-Desautels
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  2. Jan R. Mead
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  3. Momar Ndao
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Momar Ndao .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Atlanta Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Decatur, GA, USA

    Jan R. Mead

  2. Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA

    Michael J. Arrowood

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Sonzogni-Desautels, K., Mead, J.R., Ndao, M. (2020). Mouse Models for Use in Cryptosporidium Infection Studies and Quantification of Parasite Burden Using Flow Cytometry, qPCR, and Histopathology. In: Mead, J., Arrowood, M. (eds) Cryptosporidium. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 2052. Humana, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-9748-0_14

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-9748-0_14

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  • Publisher Name: Humana, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-9747-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-9748-0

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