Effect of salinity, temperature and storage time on mouse experimental infection by Cryptosporidium parvum.

Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts collected from a naturally infected calf were exposed to different salinity and temperature for 2, 21 and 40 days, and then inoculated intragastrically into coccidium-free neonatal mice. The intensity of infection as determined seven days later by examination of intestinal homogenates were statistically analysed. Salinity, time and salinity-time interaction were the only factors with significant effect on the infection intensity.