Experimental infection of lambs with Cryptosporidium isolated from a human patient with diarrhoea

Abstract

An inoculum containing Cryptosporidium oocysts obtained from an adult human patient with acute transient diarrhoea induced enteritis in two newborn specific pathogen free lambs. Three days after inoculation the lambs became depressed and diarrhoeic, their milk intake was reduced, and Cryptosporidium oocysts were detected in their faeces. Mucosal changes observed in the small intestine of one infected lamb were consistent with but less severe than those induced experimentally in lambs by cryptosporidia isolated from calves and lambs.