Host specificity of Giardia muris isolates from mouse and golden hamster

One isolate of Giardia muris from a naturally infected laboratory mouse (Mus musculus) and one from a naturally infected golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) were passaged three times by the inoculation of ten cysts (the minimal infectious dose) into barrier-maintained homologous hosts. Both of the resultant isolates were tested for infectivity by intragastric inoculation of 3-5 x 10(5) cysts into 40 mice (2 inbred strains), 40 rats (2 inbred strains), and 19 golden hamsters (1 outbred strain). Rats were not susceptible to infection with either isolate. Mice and golden hamsters did develop infections following their inoculation with the heterologous isolates. The mean intensity of heterologous infections with the hamster isolates was significantly lower than that of homologous infections. The mouse isolate induced a higher mean intensity of infection in hamsters as compared with homologous recipients. The mean intensity of infections induced by both isolates was greater in male hamsters than in females.