ABSTRACT
The relatively nature of reports on intestinal cryptosporidiosis in cats, dogs, ferrets, raccoons, opossums, rabbits, and non-human primates suggests that the infection is more common than is recognized. Spontaneous or experimental intestinal cryptosporidiosis was subclinical in nine cats ranging in age from 1 month to adult. In the one report on gastric cryptosporidiosis in cats, three 1- to 2-month-old cats inoculated orally with Cryptosporidium muris oocysts developed heavy gastric infections but were asymptomatic. Most reports of intestinal cryptosporidiosis in the domestic dog have involved the young or immunosuppressed. Naturally occurring or experimental intestinal cryptosporidiosis has been reported in rabbits from the US, Belgium, and the Federal Republic of Germany. The initial report of intestinal cryptosporidiosis in non-human primates involved two juvenile rhesus monkeys. One monkey developed pneumonia and persistent diarrhea following oral inoculation with staphylococcal enterotoxin and was euthanatized. The second monkey was found comatose and emaciated and was subsequently euthanatized.
