Improved Cryptosporidium parvum oocyst propagation using dexamethasone suppressed CF-1 mice

This study evaluates Cryptosporidium parvum oocyst production in dexamethasone suppressed CF-1 and C57BL/6 mice. Both models can yield 1 x 10(9) total oocysts over a 20-day production period; however, only 20 CF-1 mice are required to reliably achieve this goal compared to 40 C57BL/6 mice. Although oocyst yields per mouse are similar for both mouse strains, the survival rate for CF-1 mice is higher, resulting in reduced lost production time per study when compared to the C57BL/6 mice. This study presents a more efficient and cost effective dexamethasone suppressed murine model of propagating high concentrations of C. parvum oocysts.