Complete development of Cryptosporidium parvum in rabbit chondrocytes (VELI cells).

Cryptosporidium parvum is an intracellular protozoan parasite that causes severe infection in humans and animals. The great difficulties in treating people and animals suffering from cryptosporidiosis have prompted the development of in vitro experimental models. The aim of this study was to demonstrate that C. parvum can complete its entire life cycle-from sporozoite to infective oocyst-in VELI cells (a line derived from primary culture of rabbit auricular chondrocytes). Successful infections were produced by inoculating cell cultures. Infection of MDCK, HTC-8 and VELI cells with C. parvum closely paralleled in vivo infections with regard to host cell location and chronology of parasite development. Oocysts which were produced in VELI cells were infective for infant NMRI mice. The growth of C. parvum in VELI cells provides a model, both simple and inexpensive, for testing anticryptosporidial drugs and studying host-parasite interactions.