ABSTRACT
In vitro culture of Cryptosporidium parvum through asexual and sexual stages has been accomplished. Although yet controversial, in vitro cultivation in the absence of host cells has been reported. Many studies regarding in vitro cultivation have been descriptive and have introduced cell lines with various capacities to support cryptosporidial development. Methods for parasite preparation, inoculation, direct enumeration or indirect quantification, and more specific studies evaluating culture media composition and atmospheric conditions conducive to support Cryptosporidium growth have been especially valuable. Cryptosporidium oocysts for in vitro cultivation studies have primarily come from clinical human or veterinary stool samples or from oocysts generated in experimentally infected laboratory animals or livestock. Zoonotic C. parvum oocysts can be generated in low-to-moderate numbers in rodent animal models, primarily neonatal, immunocompromised, or immunosuppressed mice or rats. In vitro cultivation studies should always include age-matched oocyst controls to account for variability in infection efficiency.
