Respiratory tract cryptosporidiosis in immunosuppressed rat is associated with an epithelial metaplasia

Author： Roussel F. Lemeteil D. Favennec L. Tayot J. Ballet J.J. Brasseur P.

E-ISSN： 1776-1042|2|1|85-87

ISSN： 1252-607x

Source： Parasite, Vol.2, Iss.1, 2014-09, pp. : 85-87

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Abstract

Cryptosporidium parvum is an opportunistic protozoa that chronically infects the digestive tract of immunocompromised hosts. Respiratory cryptosporidiosis, which was reported in AIDS patients, is an uncommon feature of mammalian cryptosporidiosis models. In this study, we document the respiratory lesions observed in an immunosuppressed rat model of cryptosporidiosis. Twenty rats were immunosuppressed with corticosteroids and low protein diet. They were challenged intratracheally with 10⁶ C. parvum sporozoites. Lungs and ileums were examinated on D3, D6, D10, D14. On D10 and D14, C. parvum were present in the respiratory tract of all animals in association with the progressive appearance of an immature malpighian metaplasia. On D14, an intestinal infection was also detected in 2/4 animals. The respiratory tract appears to be a fully permissive area for the protozoa in immunosuppressed rats. Introduction of parasites on the respiratory mucosa seems a requisite to induce respiratory cryptosporidiosis. This experimental protocol yields a low mortality rate, and so modelizes late and/or chronic stages of respiratory cryptosporidiosis.