Immune Deficiency and Cryptosporidiosis in Rats

This study was intended to establish whether there is any relation between immune deficiency and cryptosporidiosis by using an animal model. Forty Rattus norvegicus rats obtained from the Experimental Animal Laboratories of the Ege University Faculty of Medicine were divided into two groups. The first group (n = 20) received corticosteroids (dexamethasone, 1.5 mg, subcutaneously, twice weekly) for eight weeks for immunosuppression, while the control group (n = 20) received no treatment. Drinking water was supplemented with tetracycline (500 mg/L) to avoid secondary infections. The animals were kept in groups of five in separate cages under the same environment and conditions. All the rats were sacrificed following the last injection, and preparations were made from the intestinal materials. All preparations were stained with Kinyoun acid-fast, modified Kinyoun acid-fast and Auramine, and were examined under light microscope. There was no detectable change in appearance and movement in the control group. However, a significant alteration was observed in the group that received corticosteroids d (Fisher’s exact test, P < 0.05). The results indicate that cryptosporidiosis and other opportunistic infections may represent a threat in immune deficiency situations.