Cryptosporidium is a protozoan organism which causes the parasitic infection, cryptosporidiosis. It exists in either the free-swimming (trophozoite) form or the oocyst (dormant) form. Cryptosporidium parvum is now recognized as a human pathogen which can cause severe diarrhea.
Drinking water contaminated with viable Cryptosporidium oocysts, the environmentally resistant form of the organism, is the major mode of transmission. Cryptosporidium is introduced into the water supply via animal excreta containing oocysts. Important reservoirs of the oocysts include cattle, sheep and pigs. Cryptosporidium is also found in wild animal populations.
Cryptosporidium can be grown in tissue cultured cells. The cultured merozoites can be used to prepare antibodies, antigens, diagnostic tests, and develop molecular tools for research. We have developed a sensitive diagnostic test for the detection of antibodies against C. parvum in serum
