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Time gap between oocyst shedding and antibody responses in mice infected with Cryptosporidium parvum
1Department of Environmental and Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine, KonKuk University, Chungju 380-701, Korea. maria205@kku.ac.kr
Abstract:
We observed the time gap between oocyst shedding and antibody responses in mice (3-week-old C57BL/6J females) infected with Cryptosporidium parvum. Oocyst shedding was verified by modified acid-fast staining. The individually collected mouse sera were assessed for C. parvum IgM and IgG antibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay from 5 to 25 weeks after infection. The results showed that C. parvum oocysts were shed from day 5 to 51 post-infection (PI). The IgM antibody titers to C. parvum peaked at week 5 PI, whereas the IgG antibody titers achieved maximum levels at week 25 PI. The results revealed that IgM responses to C. parvum infection occurred during the early stage of infection and overlapped with the oocyst shedding period, whereas IgG responses occurred during the late stage and was not correlated with oocyst shedding. Hence, IgM antibody detection may prove helpful for the diagnosis of acute cryptosporidiosis, and IgG antibody detection may prove effective for the detection of past infection and endemicity.
Insights
In mice infected with Cryptosporidium parvum, IgM antibodies indicate early infection during oocyst shedding, while IgG antibodies signal past infection. This helps diagnose acute cryptosporidiosis and assess endemicity.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Parasitology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Cryptosporidium parvum is a significant cause of diarrheal disease.
- Understanding the host immune response timeline is crucial for diagnosis and disease management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the temporal relationship between Cryptosporidium parvum oocyst shedding and the development of specific IgM and IgG antibody responses in infected mice.
- To evaluate the diagnostic potential of IgM and IgG antibodies for acute versus past cryptosporidiosis.
Main Methods:
- Infection of 3-week-old female C57BL/6J mice with Cryptosporidium parvum.
- Monitoring oocyst shedding using modified acid-fast staining.
- Quantifying C. parvum-specific IgM and IgG antibody titers in mouse serum via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay from 5 to 25 weeks post-infection.
Main Results:
- Oocyst shedding occurred from day 5 to 51 post-infection.
- IgM antibody titers peaked at 5 weeks post-infection, coinciding with the oocyst shedding period.
- IgG antibody titers peaked later, at 25 weeks post-infection, and were not correlated with oocyst shedding.
Conclusions:
- Early IgM responses correlate with active Cryptosporidium parvum infection and oocyst shedding, suggesting utility in diagnosing acute cryptosporidiosis.
- Late IgG responses indicate past infection, making them valuable for epidemiological studies and assessing disease endemicity.
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